As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed how many “quiet time rules” the Christian culture emphasizes that aren’t actually in the Bible. This reality is frustrating and concerning. When people believe they have to do _____ (fill in the blank with a rule concocted by the Christian culture) to have a “worthwhile” quiet time, they may not even try to spend time with God.
But the truth is that any time you spend reading the Bible and praying is not wasted time. If you seek God, you’ll find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13). Don’t let other believers—whether they’re well-intentioned or ill-intentioned—discourage you from trying to grow closer to God during your quiet time. This post includes three suggestions that can help you attain your goal.
1. Take a Slower Pace
Using read-the-Bible-in-a-year plans is trendy right now, and there’s nothing wrong with those plans. They can be helpful resources! Another popular practice is reading one chapter of the Bible every day, which works well for some people.
But what I’ve done for the past several years—reading the Bible for a specific amount of time rather than reading a specific number of verses or chapters—has worked well for me. It can be beneficial to focus on just a few verses while reading the Bible. If you feel like you’re always rushing through verses or chapters of Scripture, allow yourself to slow down and truly study what you’re reading.
2. Record and Remember
Praying aloud, praying silently, and writing down prayers are a few of the most common ways people communicate with God. Personally, I like writing down my prayers. But honestly, I’m not great at writing down God’s answers to my prayers or reflecting on those answers.
Yet I think it’s very important to record God’s answers to our prayers. During hardships, answered prayers can remind you who God is and how He’s worked in your life. When you recall specific details about His provision in the past, you can combat the temptation to doubt Him in the present.
3. Understand the Purpose
Throughout Scripture, we’re commanded to study God’s Word and pray. We’re instructed to draw near to Jesus, abide in Him, and follow Him (all of which we can do as we spend time with Him). If someone asked me why I have a quiet time, my answer would be simple: “God’s Word tells me to.” I don’t have a more “Christian-ese” answer than that, friends.
If you don’t really know why you’re reading the Bible or praying, it’ll be hard to maintain those habits. I encourage you to evaluate your purpose for having a quiet time and to align your purpose with what God says the purpose of your time with Him should be. I also encourage you to avoid getting lost in minutiae—rules that you or others set for your quiet time that aren’t actually rooted in God’s Word, such as reading a specific number of Bible verses or using certain words when you pray. Instead, simply aim to grow closer to God by approaching Him with sincerity, humility, and consistency.
Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually. (Psalm 105:4 NASB1995)
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