Ask Carl
What’s a good way to kick yourself in the rear and start having regular quiet times? I know that we should desire to spend quiet times with the Lord but how do you make a habit of it without it just becoming ritual? And is it wrong if you don't desire to do it everyday? If so how do I get started?
Hey--this topic is of strong interest for most (me included) because we know we need regular time with God, yet it always seems as if we don't get it. What you are really talking about is "how do I develop discipline?" Well, that is hard, as we all know, and honestly, there are no secrets. Sorry. We want to swallow a magic pill that will just let it happen--it does not. No matter what area you are talking about--the things we eat, how we spend our time, working out, talking on the phone, the time we spend on the internet—to bring discipline into those things is challenging. We usually achieve things based on reward or fear of punishment. So, we do (usually) our stuff at work on time, with some discipline, because we want to get paid. :)
Some of that truth can be applied to this area. Promise yourself a small reward for making an established Private Time with God for two weeks straight. The ways and methods are varied and all are basically good. So, it does not matter what you start with. You could start with reading a Psalm each day, then a simple prayer (Lord' Prayer, Prayer of Jabez, or something personal)--probably only about 15 minutes at most. Or, read a chapter in Proverbs each day for a month (though personally, most of the Proverbs are so rich, that they need to be read and chewed on a couplet at a time). Some suggest reading a chapter in the Gospels each day--start with John. Or another thing would be to use a devotional book like My Utmost for His Highest. Finally, another idea would be to switch it up some, to provide variety. Do a combination of those things and add reading a chapter a week of a good book written by a strong Christian writer like Leonard Sweet, John Fischer, Chuck Swindoll, C.S. Lewis, etc....
The way to keep this private time from being a ritual, thus something to have to endure, is to remember a key truth. God really is alive and really desires to be with you, you alone and personally. Amazing, huh? We so often drift into a mind game, just doing whatever as a ritual, not really thinking that anyone is listening. If you need to, drag a second chair in front of you and talk to Him there. It may seem silly, but maybe that will help. But the problem for most of us is that we just don't think we are actually talking to God, and that is what this time is for.
Now, having said that, let me hasten to add that while I have a private time with God each day, I also talk to God all day long. Of course, as I write that, I cringe knowing that many who read this will think "great, this lets me off the hook." Well, no! It's like any good relationship--often during the day I talk to my wife. At night, we are in the same house, talk in passing, often having 5-15 minutes eyeball to eyeball. But it's scattered. It's good, but not intense. Really, to make my relationship with her strong, I need to spend intentional time often (each day is best) giving her Private Time. Just me and her. And the less I do this, the weaker our relationship. The more I do this, the stronger. And God is just the same.
Remember, Jesus did not get up early in the day because of some ritual—He got up because He knew that His Father wanted to talk to Him just alone, just him, no distractions. Make that same thought your thought and you're on your way. And, if that seems very hard for you, then we probably need to ask some honest questions about where you and God stand.
Some of that truth can be applied to this area. Promise yourself a small reward for making an established Private Time with God for two weeks straight. The ways and methods are varied and all are basically good. So, it does not matter what you start with. You could start with reading a Psalm each day, then a simple prayer (Lord' Prayer, Prayer of Jabez, or something personal)--probably only about 15 minutes at most. Or, read a chapter in Proverbs each day for a month (though personally, most of the Proverbs are so rich, that they need to be read and chewed on a couplet at a time). Some suggest reading a chapter in the Gospels each day--start with John. Or another thing would be to use a devotional book like My Utmost for His Highest. Finally, another idea would be to switch it up some, to provide variety. Do a combination of those things and add reading a chapter a week of a good book written by a strong Christian writer like Leonard Sweet, John Fischer, Chuck Swindoll, C.S. Lewis, etc....
The way to keep this private time from being a ritual, thus something to have to endure, is to remember a key truth. God really is alive and really desires to be with you, you alone and personally. Amazing, huh? We so often drift into a mind game, just doing whatever as a ritual, not really thinking that anyone is listening. If you need to, drag a second chair in front of you and talk to Him there. It may seem silly, but maybe that will help. But the problem for most of us is that we just don't think we are actually talking to God, and that is what this time is for.
Now, having said that, let me hasten to add that while I have a private time with God each day, I also talk to God all day long. Of course, as I write that, I cringe knowing that many who read this will think "great, this lets me off the hook." Well, no! It's like any good relationship--often during the day I talk to my wife. At night, we are in the same house, talk in passing, often having 5-15 minutes eyeball to eyeball. But it's scattered. It's good, but not intense. Really, to make my relationship with her strong, I need to spend intentional time often (each day is best) giving her Private Time. Just me and her. And the less I do this, the weaker our relationship. The more I do this, the stronger. And God is just the same.
Remember, Jesus did not get up early in the day because of some ritual—He got up because He knew that His Father wanted to talk to Him just alone, just him, no distractions. Make that same thought your thought and you're on your way. And, if that seems very hard for you, then we probably need to ask some honest questions about where you and God stand.
