We are five days into the New Year. Five days into starting fresh. And, for many Christians, five days into working toward a new set of spiritual goals. Perhaps you even set some goals and strategies for a regular quiet time.
Regularly on this blog and when I speak, I encourage believers to “train themselves for godliness.” This website offers dozens of free tools and resources to help. Including quiet time tips. But today, I want to go to the flip side of the coin and share some words of caution about quiet time.
3 Cautions for Your Quiet Time
- Don’t do all the talking – Why do many of us always talk more than we listen? It’s a bad enough habit with our friends and family, but it’s far worse with God. Yet, often we allow prayer to become a one-way conversation. We end up talking at God instead of with Him. Honestly, this is a struggle for me. I have to remind myself to listen, to sit quietly and allow the King of the universe to speak. And isn’t it amazing that He does?!
- Don’t be unprepared – It is not unspiritual to plan and prepare. Jesus told His disciples to count the cost of following Him. Paul wrote to Timothy that he must “train Himself for godliness.” Both teach us that we must be purposeful and diligent in our discipleship and spiritual growth. Keep your tools – Bible, pen, journal, etc. – together and at hand, ready to go each morning. And have a Bible reading plan. Dropping open your Bible and pointing your finger is haphazard at best.
- Don’t succumb to legalism – This point does not contradict caution #2. Our goal should be to be prepared but flexible. I am a list maker who loves to check off the boxes. Too many times, I have found myself rushing through my Bible reading so I can check off the day’s box. Or I felt guilty when I missed a day of quiet time. Legalism in our quiet time robs us of its joy and inhibits the intimacy we long to have with God. Let’s keep our goals in mind, but let’s also follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to “get off script,” and give ourselves some grace when life gets in the way.
I sure need some me time. I need a plan to know how to work that in my day. My husband has cancer and going to doctor’s every day at this time. My fridge went out Sunday and can’t get a new one till Friday. (my old one was 45 yrs. old!).. most dr visits are out of town, I get my brother to drive sometimes. He is lost and we still try to witness to him when we can. Things are mounting up at home: washing clothes, bills, Christmas decorations still out, dirt every where, etc…How do I get it done–I don’t and that is ok. I have to do what is important right now. Having said that, I need to get off computer and get something to eat and pay some bills before I have take my husband to lunch and to see the radiology doctor!! This has been on going since Last Sept. or before..
Oh Bernice, life for you does sound overwhelming right now! I pray that in the midst of everything going on in your life that God will fill and surround you with His power and peace. May He overwhelm you instead with a very tangible sense of His presence! May He also show you how to carve out a bit of time to spend with Him regularly.