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| from http://plumitforthelord.wordpress.com/2012/06/30/taking-time-to-rest-in-god-2/ |
“Others inspire us,
information feeds us, practice improves our performance, but we need quiet time
to figure things out, to emerge with new discoveries, to unearth original
answers.” – Dr. Ester Buchholz
In my previous post, I’ve explained what Quiet Time is. We now know that it is important not
only for inner peace and quiet, but also for spiritual growth.
We’ve also learned
that it is simple and unrestricting; you can do it at any time of the day. And
that we should start slowly, incorporating it in our life progressively.
Despite of its
simplicity, having Quiet Time consistently day by day is not an easy thing to
do. If you’ve tried it, I know you’ll agree with me.
But not everything
that is simple is easy. Actually, most simple things are relatively hard to do.
The best explanation is that nothing beautiful comes easy, and that simple
is beautiful.
Joel Runyon said in
his Blog of Impossible Things: “Just because something is simple, doesn’t mean
it will be easy. Just because something is easy, doesn’t mean it will be worth
it.”
Consider this forewarning:
It will take a lot of self-discipline to successfully incorporate the habit of
daily quiet time in your system.
How to Have a Regular Daily Quiet Time
Now that we’ve
agreed that important, simple things are hard to do, here are some tips on how
to have your daily Christian Quiet Time regularly:
- Start
small. Start by
praying and reading the Bible for just 5 minutes. Do it for a week. The
next week try 10. Then the next week 15. Don’t confuse yourself on what to
pray for or what to read. Just start. Don’t worry about disappointing
anyone. This is your time alone with God, and I’m pretty sure He will
understand you. The important thing is you begin.
- Enjoy
your time alone. Having
daily Quiet Time is a journey, so learn to appreciate and enjoy each
moment. Be aware and excited of what God is going to speak to you for the
day. Be aware of how you can practically apply in your life what God had
told you. Make a log of the things that you’ve learned and already applied
and write down its benefits.
- Sleep
early to wake early. If
you decide to do it in the early mornings, like I do, you have to get
ample sleep for your Quiet Time to be effective. If you don’t, you’ll just
end up hating having to get up so early.
- Reward
yourself. Have a nice
cup of freshly brewed coffee while reading. Or inspire yourself by
listening to your favorite music. Have some chips or freshly baked pandesal in your time alone. The
point is making yourself look forward in doing it. Be creative!
- Have
an accountability partner.
Ask someone from your church who is more spiritually matured than you are
to accompany you in your journey. Both of you can schedule a time each
week to talk about each other’s Quiet Time, like a report. This way you
can also encourage one another to continue with the daily habit.
It’s Not About Perfection
I admit I’m not
perfect, and I still do miss a day or two of quiet time, but it’s not about
perfection.
It is about
strengthening our relationship with God, so don’t feel too guilty of missing a
day and not wanting to continue on.
If you’ve missed a
day, then do it tomorrow. If you’ve missed again tomorrow, then do it the next
day. Don’t quit. Don’t surrender. Persevere. Just don’t miss too much or you’ll
end up without the habit again.
Eventually it will
become a non-negotiable habit, kind
of like brushing your teeth. You can’t carry on the day without doing it.
Other Tips
- Personally, I chose to do my Quiet Time
early in the morning as it prepares me for the circumstances of the coming
day. I also meditate on what I’ve learned in the morning, being sensitive
of ways I can apply it, throughout the day. It helps me a lot, especially
when unexpected troubles come.
- Some decide to spend their Quiet Time
in the evening, before sleeping, as it becomes sort of an account to God
of what happened the whole day. Some also prefer it this way as the last
thing and highlight of the day just ended, when everything is already at
rest, with the quiet helping to clear the mind and heart.
- Find a nice, clean, and quiet place
where you can be alone to converse with God. Stay away from TV noise and active
children playing. Set your phone in silent mode, or just leave it
someplace else.
I hope this entry reaches out a lot of people. I used to feel restless when there's silence... which is ironic because silence usually connotes peace.
ReplyDeleteI think I was restless because I didn't have peace inside. I've come to appreciate quiet time when there was peace in me. :)
some people do feel restless when it's too quiet... deafening silence, as they say.
ReplyDeleteyes, i agree. peace definitely comes from within. peace can still be experienced even when we are in the middle of a storm.
Rae, you can help me spread the word by sharing this in Facebook and Twitter. :) Thanks and God bless!