My Guide to a Meaningful Quiet Time
Unlocking Spiritual Growth
Those who love Jesus want to have meaningful daily quiet time to grow spiritually. But sometimes having personal devotions can seem dry or routine. I’d like to share some keys I have found to make my devotional time more meaningful.
Why do I have a devotional quiet time?
My daily devotions help me grow in my faith and give me strength and wisdom for life’s challenges. Spending time with God rejuvenates me spiritually, helping me hear Him and find direction from Him.
Many Christians choose to have morning devotions to start off the day with a focus on God. Others prefer to have their quiet time during lunch break at work or in the evening before bedtime. But regardless of when you have your devotional time, what makes your devotions profitable instead of just so-so?
How am I approaching my time with God?
I should ask myself if I come eagerly, expecting to hear from God and coming with an open spirit. Or am I just doing my Christian duty by opening my Bible or devotional book or pulling up an online devotion to read? If I simply run my eyes over the page, hardly thinking about what it says, and add a quick prayer, I will walk away without having had a meaningful devotional time. If I feel rushed, I may need to delay this time for later in the day.
Wow! Is this mind-boggling?
God wants me to spend time with Him. Isn’t it amazing that the Creator of the universe wants to speak directly to us? He loves us so much that He wants to help us nurture our personal relationship with Him. Just that thought alone draws me toward my quiet time.
What is the content I am reading?
If I read a devotional book or an online devotion, I must make sure it matches up with Scripture. If it’s simply a feel-good, positive-thinking article, it might have a tip or two I can use, but it won’t feed me spiritually. Instead, reading devotionals that are based solidly on the Word of God can help me in my spiritual life. They give me outlooks that I might not have considered on my own.
However, I need more than devotional reading. I also need to read the Bible. Sometimes, I use Bible study tools such as a concordance, a topical Bible, and Scripture cross-references to examine topics in the devotionals or Scriptures that I read. They help me dig deeper. I find that using Biblegateway.com enables me to compare different translations and paraphrases of the Bible. That broadens my understanding.
I also take a few verses of a Bible passage and ask God to speak to me through them. I make notes in a notebook or journal to help me remember what He is showing me. Sometimes, I get so into it that time gets away from me!
If I’m unsure about something I read, I can ask mature Christian friends or my pastors for feedback. Not everything that claims to come from a Christian perspective is solid. We should be like the Berean Christians.
Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. NIV
They were not about to accept everything they heard. Because they were eager to know God, they dug into the Scriptures to see if what Paul was teaching them was true.
How being quiet helps me hear God
Quieting my spirit before God is essential to having meaningful devotions. I go to a quiet place and turn off distractions. That includes ignoring messages coming in on my cell phone.
Listening to His still small voice is so important. If my mind rushes from thought to thought or from prayer request to prayer request, I struggle to hear His voice.
Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. NIV
If I have trouble quieting my thoughts, I ask God for help. He desires that we draw close to Him to find peace and quietness in our spirits.
Meaningful devotions are...
So perhaps I could say that good devotions consist of coming to my quiet time ready to hear God, praying, listening for Him to speak to me, and focusing on some solid biblical content to lift me up and build my faith.
You may have other thoughts about what makes a meaningful devotional time. Please share them in the comments section.