QUIET TIME

I. What is a “quiet time”?

   A. What do the following verses describe about “quiet time”?

1. James 4:8

2. Psalms 5:3

3. Psalms 119:18

4. Psalms 63:5, 6

5. Mark 1:35

   B. According to Matthew 4:4 what is God’s formula for how a man is to live?

   C. Quiet time is vital for every Christian who wants to grow.

Explain what you think “quiet time” is.

II. Why is “Quiet Time” so vital?

Most Christians know they need to spend time with the Lord in prayer and meditation in His word. But it seems that few do. Do you think it is necessary?                Why?

   A. We need it!                     Match the following verses with each result:

                          Spiritual growth           1. Psalms 119:11

                          Strength in battle         2. Psalms 32:8

                          Guidance                    3. I Peter 2:2

                          Spiritual cleansing       4. Ephesians 6:17, 18

                          Victory over sin          5. John 17:17

                          Fullness of joy            6. Psalms 16:11

   B.  We need “quiet time” because God wants to meet with us!

           

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  shall

worship the Father in _ _ _ _ _ _   and in _ _ _ _ _ : for the Father _ _ _ _ _ _ _   such to

_ _ _ _ _ _ _   _ _ _ . 

            1. How did Job esteem God’s Word?  Job 23:12

                                                                                                            “No Bible, No breakfast”.

            2. Job’s attitude towards God Word kept him from doing what?   Job 23:12

III. Motivation – Duty or Love?

  I Chronicles 28:9 “… _ _ _ _  thou the  _ _ _  of thy father, and  _ _ _ _ _  him with  a

perfect _ _ _ _ _   and with a  _ _ _ _ _ _ _  mind: for the LORD  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  all hearts,

and understandeth all the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  of the  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ :   . . .  “

            Check the correct attitudes we should have for “quiet time”:

            “If I don’t have my quiet time this morning I know the Lord won’t bless me today.”

             “OK, Lord, you got 5 minutes to show me something – I’ve got lot to do today.

             “Please, Lord, show me the treasures of your word.”

             “I know the Lord will be mad at me if I don’t spend time with him today.”

             “I want to obey what you show me, Lord.”

When you harbour a wrong motivation in “quiet time” you shouldn’t expect the Lord to “show you His treasures.”

                                                                                           My prayer Psalms 119:18        jnh                  

IV. Keys to a Fruitful “Quiet Time”:

   A.   Commitment in your heart to know and love God through “quiet time”.

            Read and Study Psalms 119:15 and Psalms 55:16, 17

   B. Specific time and place.

            Read and Study Mark 1:35

Quiet time needs to be planned. If you don’t you probably won’t “get around to it”. Some people say, “I don’t have time for quiet time.”  But the fact is that if you are to busy for quiet time you are busier than god wants you to be.

   C. Be fully alert.

   D. Have a quiet time notebook. Record the thoughts, principles, ad applications that the Lord shows you.

   E. Have a prayer list.

   F. Have a spirit of expectancy. If you come to the Lord with a soft expectant heart, He will show you the treasures of His word.