A real quiet time with the Lord doesn't always look the same for every Christian. Some may follow a rigid schedule; same time every day. Others may change up their quiet times because of schedules, or demanding family needs-LIFE. There are also those who skip days at a time before they sit down with the Word in hand again. Who's to say who's the more mature Christian? God and God alone.
A real quiet time for me looks different from all of the above because my quiet times consist of all of the above. Sometimes I am so intentional as to what I'm reading, meditating on, listening to, praying about, writing about, etc., that I am gulping down truth as fast as the Holy Spirit is pouring it into me. Other days I'm just living off of the vast amount of truth that I've already swallowed. I can't hold any more. This is when I just need to soak in what I've learned and allow the Holy Spirit to absorb it into my soul.
Am I any less spiritual because I'm not rigid? No. Am I still in tune with the Spirit even when I'm not following a specific schedule of reading the Word? Yes. When a quiet time becomes just an item on a "to-do" list, then it becomes a ritual instead of transformational. The truth of God's Word is designed to transform lives and refresh spirits.
As you ponder "A Real Quiet Time- Part 1", ask yourself if you desire refreshment or ritual? Jesus doesn't want us to come to Him out of duty. He wants us to come to Him out of love because we want to spend time with Him. He wants to refresh us, teach us, love us, fill us, and grow us. Yes, it does take effort on our part, but it's always worth it. Take some time to examine your quiet time. Why do you have one? What are you learning? How are you applying what you learn? Do you feel defeated if you miss?
Start fresh today! Read God's Word, pray and listen. Soak in His truth and then live it out! That's how the refreshment is manifested; live out what you learn. A real quiet time produces real results. Don't just read it and check it; soak it and live it! That's the real mark of a mature Christian.
"Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long." (Psalm 25:4-5 NIV)
Come back and we'll look at "A Real Quiet Time- Part 2".
Lord Jesus, help me to have quiet times with You that are real and refreshing. Teach me, mold me, grow me up! Help me to not walk in defeat because I missed a day reading Your Word. Instead, as I read, show me how you want to change my heart to look more like Yours. Give me the strength to allow You to do what is necessary to change me so I can live out the truth You've taught me. The more I grow, the more I want to spend time with You. May the quiet times that I spend with You produce real results. In Jesus' name, Amen.
My Pleasure,
Melanie
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