Why Quiet Times Matter

I still remember, as a preteen, having a conversation with God while walking through the woods at a Christian camp. I couldn’t tell you exactly what I was praying about at the time (If I were to guess, it was regarding my desire for a deep and meaningful friendship in my life.), but I remember what ended that particular conversation with the Lord. I came upon a girl from my cabin sitting on a picnic table alone, reading. I walked up to her and asked her what she was doing. She said she was doing her “devos.” I had no idea what she was talking about, so I inquired. She said, “You know – my devotions. I’m having my daily quiet time.” At that moment, others from our cabin met up with us and wanted to go swimming or something, so I didn’t inquire further, but I noticed that the girl I had been talking to had been reading her Bible. I was no stranger to people reading their Bibles. I was a Christian, grew up in the church, and witnessed my parents reading theirs at home, but I had never heard of or thought about “devos” or a “quiet time” before. Just like my young self, let’s think through this concept of quiet times and why they matter.

WHAT:

What do Christians mean when they say they had a quiet time or devotions? What is the basic concept? According to Webster’s Dictionary, devotion means: 

• The act of dedicating something to a cause
• The fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal
• Religious fervor
• An act of prayer or private worship

So, to whom are we meant to be fervently loyal and worship? God.

WHO:

There is no debate that we live in a corrupt and sinful world. We often find ourselves hurting either due to our own sin or the sin of others. In Genesis 3, the Bible records the very first sin and its progression. It started with Eve being deceived by the serpent (Satan). Next, we see her doubting God’s goodness and faithfulness, which leads to disobedience and ultimately, death (separation from God).

When we listen to voices other than God’s, we are easily led down a similar path. The more we listen and spend time with Him, the easier it is to know and believe the truth, which, contrary to sin’s progression, leads to faith, obedience, and ultimately life. 

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” God is so good, and He loves us so much. He knows we are tired and carrying a lot on our shoulders. He tells us that He is the safe place to find rest for our souls. He will teach us what we need to know. He is gentle and approachable. Jesus gives us rest from the heavy burden of trying to earn our way to Heaven. Instead of self-righteousness and legalism, He offers us a yoke of repentance and faith and asks us to follow Him.

WHY:

WWJD bracelets are starting to come back into style after a hiatus since the 90s. What Would Jesus Do? I can tell you what He did. He studied the scripture (Luke 2:40, 52 – He had the wisdom of God to understand and explain scripture, but He had a human mind and had to grow and memorize the Bible just like the rest of us). We also see in scripture that He often spent quiet time alone with the Father (Luke 5:15-16; Mark 1:35-37; Luke 22:39-45). As Paul said in Ephesians 5:1, Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Let’s look at Webster’s Thesaurus this time. Synonyms of dedication are: 

• Affection
• Love
• Attachment
• Fondness
• Passion 

Think of someone on Earth that you truly love. Maybe a parent, grandparent, sibling, or even a best friend came to mind. Now, keep thinking of them. Do you enjoy spending time with them? Do you enjoy talking with them? Are these ways that you show each other that you love each other? I’m guessing you answered yes to all of those questions. Now imagine that the person you were thinking of dies. If that person left you notes before they died, would you read them? Would you only read them once? Of course, you’d read them. You’d read them over and over again because you want to hear his or her voice, and you miss them.

If we are truly Christians, love God, and want a good relationship with Him, shouldn’t we want to spend time with him? Shouldn’t we want to talk to Him? Shouldn’t we want to hear His voice?

HOW:

Beyond our actions (doing, saying, and thinking what is Godly), two ways we can show devotion to God are through studying and meditating on His word, the Bible (not just reading), and spending time with Him in prayer (conversation, not just a wish list). 

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NIV) Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Psalm 1:1-3 (NASB) How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of the sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does he prospers.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV, emphasis mine) All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Matthew 6:6 (ESV) But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

How can someone keep this as a priority in their lives? Some merely need to put it on their calendar, and that is all it takes. However, I learned from an educational expert several years ago that the best way to form a new habit is to attach it to an already existing one. She told us a story about years earlier when she decided that she needed to drink more water. She tried getting a water bottle to help her intake levels, but she would forget to drink it or misplace the bottle completely. This expert then decided to leave it in the refrigerator because she was a stay-at-home mom at that time in her life and would frequently be in the fridge either to grab ingredients for meals, snacks, or other things that her kids needed, so every time she opened it, she had to take a sip of water. She reached her hydration goals in no time. The same woman also told a similar story about trying to get fit and doing push-ups every time she went to the bathroom.

What habit do you already have that can remind you to do your quiet time? Perhaps you can study your Bible after you brush your teeth, take a shower, work out, or eat breakfast in the morning, or maybe your prayer time can be while you are commuting to/from school or work.

WHEN:

When can I worship God through a quiet time? Daily is the goal. Is there an ideal time of day? Yes. What time is that? Well, that’s up to you and God. My advice is to give God your best time. Some people may advise that it should be at 6 am. That never would work for me. I am an extreme night owl. It is not by choice. It is by design. God made my internal clock later than everyone else’s. I’ve always been that way. Mornings, therefore, are a “choose joy” time of day for me. I would avoid having an important meeting or getting together with a good friend or loved one at that time, so why would I think it would be the best time to spend with God? Plus, I’d be living life with only a few hours of sleep each night. 

I understand the concept of wanting to start the day with our eyes fixed on Him, and I am not debating that. If you are a morning person, go for it. Otherwise, listen to worship music or a podcast as you get ready in the morning. Pray for people while you are in the shower. Keep Him and His kingdom at the forefront of your mind and heart. However, I recommend your quiet time be when you are at your best. For example, during my first job out of college, I would go outside on the lawn of the office building and have it during my lunch hour. Not only was I more focused, but it was a tremendous witnessing tool with my non-Christian coworkers and a challenge/reminder for my Christian ones.

Do not feel a great sense of shame if you miss a day or have to do it another time of day to make it work (some is better than none), but commit yourself to be intentional and keep to the schedule you’ve made. I have someone in my life who is known for being an opportunist friend. I always hold our plans loosely in my hand because it is not uncommon for her to cancel at the last minute because a better offer comes up. Don’t be like her in your friendship with God. He is the best opportunity for your time, so don’t bail on your plans.

WHERE:

Like the girl I spoke with at camp, find a quiet and secluded place to spend quality time with the Lord. It should be a space free from distractions (those are different for everyone). When I was a senior in college, I had a roommate who always had the TV on, and I didn’t mind the background noise when doing my math homework. I could tune it out with no issues, even while sitting on the couch. However, if I had been asked to write this article in the same setting, I would have said no because I prefer it quiet when being reflective. Many people need silence when they are driving if they don’t know where they are or if the weather conditions are poor, because it helps them focus on the task at hand. All of this to say, we always want to give the best of ourselves to God, whether that be on a walk, riding in a car, or with a warm beverage snuggled in our favorite chair.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I love that God took a vulnerable time in my life when I was most likely praying for deep, meaningful friendships and used someone my age’s obedience and love for Him to show me that the most meaningful relationship I have and will ever have is with Him. He taught me how to love and honor Him as well as how to truly live. My prayer is that you will learn the same.

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Joshua 1:8-9 (ESV) This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

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Nichole Anderson

Royal Servants Mission Trip Leader