Ians Quiet Time Tips

In every activity, every place, every experience, every moment of our daily lives, there is an equal opportunity and potential to connect with God. Finding God is not confined solely to special activities or special events or even things that we consider “spiritual.” It’s not enough to just think about God, to consider Him intellect or emotion. Instead we must pursue Him with a childlike wonder to get to KNOW HIM. When we encounter God like this, even the most ordinary details of our life become holy moments. Invite, seek, open, listen, live, become. 

However, there are times when spending special time intentionally focusing on how we relate to God can really help our every day relationship with God. These ideas listed below are simply means to an end, not an end in themselves. These ideas are here for you to experience and know God, they aren’t intended to be another “spiritual check list.” We don’t live for these spiritual exercises, instead they help us to live, live the abundant life and be filled-up and refueled for living God’s ways.  

STOP—BE QUIET—MAKE A CONNECTION 

Some suggestions: 

1. Choose a passage of Scripture and repeat it until you memorise it.
2. Read one Psalm a day. Pray the Psalm back to God.
3. If you’ve never read the Bible begin with the Gospel of Matthew
4. Read one chapter of Proverbs a day for 31 days.
5. When you read the Gospels, imagine yourself as one of the people in the story; record how you would feel and respond.
6. Begin a journal page with, “Yesterday, I… “ Then list everything you did yesterday (the places you went, the people you talked to, and the things you did) and see if God was trying to get your attention for anything.
7. Begin by making a list of things you are thankful for.
8. As you read your Bible write down favourite verses on index cards; keep these cards in a place where you’ll see them often.
9. Get a notebook and copy an entire book of the Bible by hand.
10. Use Psalm 23 or 139 as a prayer.
11. Write your prayers in a journal.
12. Pray for a friend’s salvation for one minute every day for 30 days.
13. Use a world map and pray for the people of a different country for one minute every day.
14. Write out a letter of confession to God
15. Make a list from A to Z of things that you are thankful for
16. Rewrite passages from the Bible in your own words
17. Study the Bible with a Commentary and/or Bible Dictionary.
18. Read a Daily Devotional Book: Some devotionals are what I would call a “quick snack” and others are “full course meal.”
19. Here are some suggestions:

·         My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers

·         Daily Light For Every Day, Anne Graham Lotz

·         Grace For the Moment, Max Lucado

·         Praise in the Presence of God, Jack Hayford

·         Streams In the Desert, L.B.Cowman

·         One Minute Bible, Doug Fields

·         Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster

·         Moments with the Savior, Ken Gire 

20. Read and reflect on a good Christian book:

·           The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer

·           Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis

·           The Way of a Worshiper, Buddy Owens

·           Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald
     Whitney

·           Abiding in Christ, Andrew Murray

·           Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren

·           Practicing the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence     

·           The Rest of God, Mark Buchanan

·           Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning

·           Seizing Your Divine Moment, Erwin McManus

·           Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala

·           The Life You’ve Always Wanted, John Ortberg

·           Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis

·           The Call, Os Guinness