Top Tips for Quiet Times!
Posted by Gareth on December 6, 2011 Categories: Youth
Top tips for Quiet Times!
What are they?
A time which Christians set aside to spend reading the Bible and praying every day.
Why do them?
A person who becomes a Christian goes from knowing about God to knowing God.
“Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” --John 17:3
Being a Christian is all about knowing who God is and what He has done.
But if we don’t spend any time with Him we can’t get to know Him! After all if you are getting to know a friend you spend time hanging out, chatting, asking questions.
"1In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe." Hebrews 1v1
The main way we get to know God is by reading the Bible. Jesus is described in the Bible as being the word of God.
"1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1v1
So we can know God by reading the Bible-His word written down.
But often we don’t read the Bible or spend any time with God.
Why not?
Prayer often does not happen because Christians don’t take the time to plan to pray and we then decide we are too busy-watching TV, checking facebook etc.
Some Christians plan to pray but then are defeated by their mind drifting off topic.
Other people feel like they are too far away from God to pray.
Some feel that they are too ashamed to pray.
And lots are happy to just be mediocre.
So Top tips to combat these issues (drawn from a selection of ex-youth who’ve just gone to Uni)
Find some time when you can be alone.
Find a time to timetable it every day.
This doesn’t mean it becomes a religious habit it means you do it whatever you’re feeling. (preferably in the morning as it focuses you for the day)
Write prayers down, or think of creative ways of praying if you aren’t in a routine or habit of doing it at all because it makes it more fun-like a prayer map or timetable.
Use ‘Search the Scriptures’.
Explore Bible notes.
Remember that God loves you and has written it down so how He feels about you doesn’t change even if you don’t feel close to Him.
Remember you can always ask for forgiveness.
Please post your own top tips in the comments section below!
by Emma Graham