There are several occasions in the Holy Bible where Jesus withdrew to pray to the Father, YAHWEH. This model of our Lord and Saviour indicates to us that we should practice this withdrawal in a similar fashion. The good thing is you can pray at anytime and anywhere to your Father in heaven. You can build a better quiet time rhythm.
“And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.” – Mark 6:46 (ESV)
“But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” – Luke 5:16 (ESV)
‘And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, …’ Luke 22:39-41 (ESV)
I believe intentionality is one of the major keys to any good relationship. Quality time needs to be mutually invested for the best results. Our wise and perfect Father God has indeed done His part and gave us a love letter, the Holy Bible, to learn more about Him. Interestingly, His words are equally relevant in today’s world as it was in times past. It is now up to us as His children to do our part and cultivate a relationship with Him.
About a year ago, I married the love of my life and it’s quite easy to recall our courting phase. During that time, we purposefully sowed time to learn about each other. Even after our wedding ceremony, we constantly learnt something new about each other as the tides of life continue to change.
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Likewise, it would prove tremendously beneficial for us to be constantly curious about who God is. Although YAHWEH does not change, our understanding of Him can certainly evolve. We may experience Him as Jehovah Jireh (Provider) in one season of our life and Jehovah Rapha (Healer) in another season.
No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, it is crucial to, like Jesus, withdraw and connect with God.
Here are 4 Tools to Help You to Build a Better Quiet Time: :
1) Invite the Holy Spirit through prayer.
The Spirit of the Living God dwells inside every believer in Jesus Christ. He is the One who gives us the ability to live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). The Holy Spirit is the very breath of God. He is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. He is also known as the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
The word “fear” in this verse refers to having respect, reverence and piety for God. What other power could help us in our devotion time than the very power of God Himself? Praying for wisdom and understanding to grasp the concepts in God’s Word can only be done through the revelation of the Holy Ghost.
So, feel free to ask your heavenly Father to give you His revelation of His truth through His Spirit to help you have a better quiet time.
“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” – Isaiah 11:2 (ESV)
2) Use commentary websites.
God has blessed people from different walks of life to teach and interpret scriptures. Although everyone is not gifted the same way, some people are graced to accurately teach scriptures. Websites such as Enduring Word, Through The Word (TTW) and the Blue Letter Bible have helped me tremendously during my personal Bible studies. Audio features are also available on these apps if you are an auditory learner. Educated teachers teach doctrinally sound content that protects the integrity of God’s Word.
Admittedly, these commentaries can take some time to get through so it would be wise to properly schedule your time with God. 😅 A better quiet time is within your reach!
3) Incorporate the Bible Project and sermons.
For all of the visual learners, the Bible Project might be for you. This is a YouTube channel that explains key biblical themes through sketches and animation. I must say that the artwork is truly amazing 😍. The narrators do an excellent job of describing topics ranging from God’s love to the need of our repentance to angelic beings and the like.
Sermons are a good tool to also incorporate in your quiet time. Hearing God-ordained pastors preach godly truths can add drastic improvements.
4) Praise & Worship.
A popular Bible teacher, Tiphani Montgomery, says that “The kingdom of God is voice activated” and she is absolutely correct! God Himself demonstrated this principle in the very creation of the world. Jesus also said the phrase “it is written” on several occasions. Proverbs 18:21 tells us also that “death and life are in the power of the tongue,…” (ESV)
Keep in mind that when we speak according to the will of God, we are not manifesting anything whatsoever. Rather, we rely on the manifestation power of God to do what He deems best for us by His good, pleasing and perfect will. Singing worship music; dancing onto your God; and giving Him glory is an active tool to improve your devotion time.
Summary
Having personal time with God is essential to the health of the believer in Jesus Christ. Learn to utilize the available tools to deepen your walk with God. Pray that God will lead you to Spirit-filled teachers in order to avoid false ones.
To recap,
Here are a few popular tools that can help you to improve your devotion/quiet time:
- Invite the Holy Spirit through prayer.
- Use commentary websites.
- Incorporate the Bible Project and sermons.
- Praise & Worship.
Resources:
Praise & Worship: YouTube is a good source! For example, you can check out Nathaniel Bassey.
What tool or resource has helped you to connect with God on a deeper level?
Thanks for stopping by!
#madeforlove
With love & laughter,
Monique Glasgow
Other Helpful Resources:
How to Steadily Grow in Your Relationship With God
10 Easy Tips to Start Journaling today
How to Spend Time with God Every Day AND Enjoy It!
Disclosure
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Recommended Books:
“Disciplines of a Beautiful Woman” by Anne Ortlund
“How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth” by Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart
