The Real Reason I Have a Quiet Time

I stared at the clock as I flipped through the Psalms.

8:01…8:15…8:24. When will the clock say “8:30?” Hasn’t it been a half hour since I started? Why is this Psalm so long? I really don’t feel like journaling a prayer today, but I really have to do it if this is going to count as a complete quiet time. I feel like I should work on memorizing that Psalm or sing that praise song…  

Clearly, I couldn’t focus on the task at hand: doing my quiet time. Even though I try to have a regular quiet time, I don’t always meet that goal. And I certainly have trouble focusing while I do it. So why do I bother? What’s the real reason that I have a quiet time?

The Real Reason

The real reason that I have quiet time is to check it off my “good Christian” checklist. Some specific items on that checklist are: read my Bible, pray, go to church, memorize Bible verses, sing praise songs, serve in church, etc. You get the picture.

Of course, I wish my motivation to have a quiet time was to draw closer to God or learn about His character and grow stronger in my faith. But those things don’t motivate me to sit down with my Bible, a pen, and a journal.

I do my quiet time because it’s simply the right thing to do. I would be a bad Christian if I didn’t, right?

Well, not exactly.

No Matter What

As believers, we aren’t seen as “bad” or “good” Christians in God’s eyes. Jesus’ righteousness covers our sin (including our neglect of His Word, prayer, worship, etc.). We don’t have to worry that God will stop loving us or that we’ll no longer be saved if we skip a quiet time or even several quiet times.

God loves us regardless of what we do or fail to do because we’re His forever. No matter what our motivations are, we must never stop studying His Word and never stop praying. Our hearts may not always be in the right place when we do our devotions, but that doesn’t mean we should stop.

As you read God’s Word, praise Him for His work in your life, ask Him for guidance, confess your sins to Him, thank Him for His blessings, and bring your requests to Him, He’ll draw near to you.

What Your Quiet Time Is Not About

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. (James 4:8-10 NASB)

Our motives aren’t always pure when we draw near to God. We’re “double-minded” because we say we love Him but we also sin constantly. However, that doesn’t mean that we should give away our Bibles and never speak to God again.  Instead, we should spend more time with Him so that He’ll continue to transform our hearts—including our motives.

Your “good Christian” checklist may be extensive and exhausting, but it doesn’t define your relationship with God. Christ does. He defined you as loved, forgiven, and redeemed. Finishing a Bible study, memorizing a book of the Bible, praising Him for His work in your life, or bringing your needs to Him are all wonderful things; but they don’t save you. Jesus does.