How to Have a Quiet Time

Prepared by Ann Shorb, Ph.D.
Also see Why Have a Daily Quiet Time?
Download this resource as a PDF for easier printing.

In having a regular quiet time with God, there are two primary goals. The first is to worship and praise God. In doing this you revel in who God is, observe and acknowledge the daily blessings He bestows, and express your appreciation for His greatness. As you meditate on His holiness expressions of adoration and praise can’t help but follow. God delights in the praises of His children!

The second goal is to for you to grow spiritually. This involves becoming aware of sinful thoughts, attitudes and actions in your life, confessing them, and seeking God’s forgiveness. Kay Arthur the great Bible teacher says that confession is simply agreeing with God that these things are wrong. Then it’s time to start replacing them with positive thoughts, attitudes and actions as directed by God’s Word.

Begin your quiet time by taking a few deep breaths and calming yourself from the rush of the day. Mentally lay aside the tasks and routines that consume your thinking. Ask God to calm your thoughts and keep your mind focused on Him. (It’s often helpful to jot down things that are on your mind before you begin your quiet time.)

Pray and ask God to cleanse your heart as you come before Him.

Offer God praise and worship. You might sing a hymn or praise chorus, or read a Psalm of adoration. Count your blessings. Recite a poem that praises the great Creator. There are many ways to praise God. Be creative. He loves your worship!

Read a passage from the Bible, a devotional book or study guide. As you read, ask yourself what is being said in this passage. Who was it written for? What is the main thought of the passage? (Keep in mind what was said in the preceding sections.) Is there a particular truth that stands out to you? Is there a command to obey or an example to follow? Does this passage warn or caution you about something? Does it encourage you to take action in some way? If so, what is it? How can you take what you learned and apply that to your life today? Writing down your key thoughts each day can be helpful. At the end of this section you’ll find My Daily Record that can be printed and used for taking notes. Also My Spiritual Journal is available on this site.

Speak to God in prayer. While it’s not a magic formula, the following acrostic is easy to remember, and reminds you that prayer consists of:
Adoration—praising and worshiping for God’s greatness
Confession—seeking to cleanse your heart from wrong and/or failures
Thanksgiving—expressing appreciation for God’s blessings and provisions
Supplication—asking God for the supply of the needs of others and for your own
Silence—listening to the voice of God for any specific direction or message from Him.

End your quiet time by asking God to help you remember what you’ve learned.

©Copyright, Ann Shorb, 2007, Christian Counseling & Educational Services www.ccesonline.com
This document may be reproduced for personal or group use, but may not be included in any document to be used for commercial purposes.

My Daily Record

Date ___________________________

1. Items of praise and thanksgiving today:

 

2. Passage Read _______________________________________________________

Key thoughts from this passage:

 

Is there a command to obey or example to follow?

 

Is there specific action to take?

 

How can I apply these truths to my life today?

 

3. Prayer requests for others:

 

 

4. Prayer requests for myself:

 

 

5. Things I needed to confess and to change:

 

©Copyright, Ann Shorb, 2007, Christian Counseling & Educational Services www.ccesonline.com
This document may be reproduced for personal or group use, but may not be included in any document to be used for commercial purposes.

Find out more about Christian counseling.

Also see Why Have a Daily Quiet Time?
Download this resource as a PDF for easier printing.
Read devotionals by Dr. Shorb.