(3) A notebook - Record passages (eg, one's you want to memorize - write them out on a small card to carry with you the rest of the day) and insights on passages especially those that convict you and call for Spirit of grace enabled obedience. Solution: Ask the Holy Spirit to plant within you the desire to have a daily quiet time. But if you'll get on a regiment of eating right, it'll change you. Last, share your plans and goals with a friend. But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. I should sip and savor, be warmed and fed. Use an affirmation such as I am safe. more than a discipline of our day timer. Meditation After allowing God to talk to us through the reading of His words and meditation, then we should speak to Him. Before we can understand what life is all about we need to know what he has taught. She regularly rose early in the morning for her time with the Lord. Play Hymn, Daniel a man greatly used by God had the lifelong OT equivalent of a "Quiet Time" - Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. I have my materials out there. (Da 6:10-note; cp David's mention of three times a day in Ps 55:17), Elijah had a "quiet time" to hear the quiet voice of God - "after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." Tell Him how you feel, He already knows. Seize every opportunity and inclination to practice your new habit. Prepare to Communicate with the Master. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen into silver-gray pathways, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the icehouses, and covered with golden sawdust. The book of Genesis says, The evening and the morning were the first day. The Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday. Pray it in and when you pray pour out your soul. When pressures mount and you find that you have too many things to do, what are you usually tempted to drop first? Romans Christianity is not a legal relationship; it is a love relationship. Morning Prayers Do you need to stop worrying and trust in God more? If you're not very excited yet about Bible reading and prayer, lift up to Him the sacrifice of your surrendered will. 1 Kings In Mk 1:32-34, Mark has been showing us our Lord's various activities. He wrote, I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your Word (v.147). WebMorning Motivation. And it is in our wilderness here on earth that He daily provides the Bread of His Word, the Bread of Himself. Ps 73:25-28-Spurgeon's Note, The best time to worship is, of course, in the morning, in that time that we call a quiet time. Make sure to pray about the things that are important and personal to you, just as you would if you were having a quiet time alone with God. For example, my verse this morning was John 1:43: Follow Me. I began praying at that point and I said, Lord, help me follow You more closely, and then I prayed for my loved ones that they would follow the Lord, and from there I went into a time of prayer. 3. The Nobel Prize is awarded annually to people in a variety of fields who have made an extraordinary impact. I'm just simply saying that you're speaking to God. (How to Worship Jesus Christ), Spurgeon: Divided aims tend to distraction, weakness, disappointment. You can do the same about Bible study. Sunday Worship Service - July 23, 2023 | website - Facebook Simply put, we must seek to spend quality time with God, for "Our ability to stay with God in our closet measures our ability to stay with God out of the closet." That system prevented me from accomplishing what I should on the violin. Revelation and obedience. Minutes It's smoking. The one thing sought is unfolded a lifelong dwelling in the house of Yahweh, that is to say intimate spiritual intercourse is the one desire of David's heart, in order that he might behold and feast upon (of a clinging, lingering, chained gaze) the pleasantness (or gracefulness) of the Lord. It doesnt mean that we can meet God in the morning and then leave Him there in the closet while we go into the day. And His courts with praise. Your Father who sees you in secret will reward you openly. For theythat is my enemiesare ever with me. One day, when I was asking her about it, she said, Robert, do you have the notebook habit? I didnt know what the notebook habit was, so I said no, I didnt think I did. Perhaps youre familiar with the story of Daniel in the lions den. Now, you cannot love someone that you do not know. How often would it be good for me to spend time alone with God? In the notes below there are a variety of suggestions as well as caveats regarding quiet time, but simply put, we should keep our "face time" with God simple so that we are neither encumbered by even "good things" (Heb 12:1) nor distracted by details. Reprinted by permission. I suppose the friend said, Jesus, heres the key to the gate. Ephesians In that quiet room I found the secret of the multifarious activities of the machines in the various shops. If you've never practiced the discipline of delight (not duty) of a quiet time see Robert Foster's Seven Minutes with God posted below for his suggestion. And as our Elder Brother demonstrates, we have no less of a need to hear from our Father in heaven. Yes, it will be a true sacrifice. Have your quiet time when you will not be interrupted, and plan around interruptions to your quiet time rather than becoming frustrated by them. Time with Him enriches and deepens the relationship I have with Him. How much time do you spend reading the Bible and meditating on its truths? While some question the veracity of this story, if true, it is certainly convicting. He has come as Lord of my home. Instead of looking at my watch and saying, "I have ten minutes to get through my prayer list," I simply knelt down and quietly meditated upon the fact that I was in the presence of the Lamb of God and worshiped Him. Abraham: Gen 19:27 Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the LORD; (Spurgeon's sermon -The Smoke of their Torments). What did Adam do after he had sinned and God came walking in the Garden? And you may also receive some specific indication of His will for you in your present circumstances. Then I might or might not write something about my day or how Im feeling. Then spend five minutes in unhurried prayer. Returning from a traveling ministry in teams of two, the Twelve reported the wonderful things that God had done through them (Mark 6:7-13,30). This is your quiet time. Carole Mayhall. When there is something in your life that is out of adjustment with the will of God, don't expect to have fellowship with Him. Web22. Hebrews Even though I have read it over the yearsover and over and over againnever a morning with God that He does not reveal something new to me. In fact the Bible frequently mentions other godly men and women rising early in the morning to meet with the Lord: Jesus: Mark 1:32-39 "And when evening had come, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. Mindfulness meditation: Being still in the presence of God My quiet time then became something for Him, not something for me and with the worship of my heartthe pouring out of my I heart to Him in worshipcame the overpowering awareness of His presence. Modern smart phones have a feature called "Face Time" to make the phone encounter more personal and realistic. Best Guided Meditations of 2023. Or on a mountain tall Acts 4:13 tells us, When [the leaders] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. I have studied and read hundreds of books on the spiritual life. All right, now what have we said. Nahum Gods Word delivered special comfort during the psalmists sleepless nights. I confess quite frankly that it is harder for me to have my quiet time now than it was when I was first converted. Have You been here all these mornings? Put yourself where you can be influenced by the Spirit and not influenced by the flesh. Not only is the morning the best way to start the stay; its the best time to stop and pray. If after examining your life and procedures, you are still not getting anything out of your quiet time, tell God about it. Be natural. A quiet time is not to make you spiritual. And we need to fix our minds and focus our minds on the, on the gift of privilege for the Lord Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.". We get under a burden about these things. And if you'll get on a regiment of obeying the Word of God, getting into the Word of God and feeding your soul, the change will not be spasmodic and it may not be dramatic, but on the long run, it will change you for eternity. Take time to chew the cud of God's Word - cp Jer 15:16). And so, by Gods grace, this is a habit that Ive maintained since 1971. I told this man, You need to master life before its too late. Ps 119:147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Thy words. Number three, meditate on the Word of God and ask those questions. One great Christian said, I have so much to do today I simply must go to bed. Jesus said to his disciples, Come ye apart and rest a while (Mark 6:31). With the reasons for the daily quiet time, there are some practical and specific requirements. (7) This is what I read in the biography of the well-known 19th century Bible teacher, G. Campbell Morgan: Here was a man who coveted for himself a constant withdrawal from the pressing demands of his busy life, and kept inviolate the sanctity of the early morning vigil of prayer and meditation. James Smith -COMMUNE. The Lord speaks to me through His Word, then I speak to Him in prayer. Now that just will tune your heart to think about the presence of God. With downcast glance, I said, "Blessed Master, forgive me. Then work on the factors that produce such failings. Now when you read the Bible, read for quality and not quantity. 1. Thank you for watching. The man of one book is eminent, the man of one pursuit is successful. He worshipped on from watch to watch as travellers journey from stage to stage. The next day, put the new date11/08/04beside John 1:17 and read on until you find that days verse, then circle it. 8 John C. Pollock, A Foreign Devil in China (Minneapolis, Minnesota: World Wide Publications, 1971), p. 52/. Our time in the morning with God is not meant to be a ritual or a routine but a relationship. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.