I began this series on quiet time in April and I’m just now continuing. Once every four months sounds about right.
I’m kidding of course, and hopefully your quiet time doesn’t have the same frequency. Strive to have it every day, but don’t beat yourself up if and when you miss a day.
Last time we talked about what a quiet time is in its most basic level. Today I want to talk about what quiet time is not.
A quiet time is NOT:
ONE Another chore to check off the list.
Although it may be helpful to put “Quiet time” on your to-do list, and even more helpful to put it into your agenda and calendar (actually making it an appointment with yourself), it’s not just another item to check off the list, like “Take out the trash.” The most important relationship in your world is your relationship with your Creator. Give this time the importance it deserves.
TWO A way to gain God’s favor.
It may be tempting for some to see a daily quiet time as an obligation that will gain God’s favor; the thinking goes, that if I miss a day, my salvation could be in jeopardy, or God will withdraw His grace. But our salvation and God’s grace is not based on what I do or don’t do. I can’t get more of God’s favor if I’m faithful in my quiet time, and I can’t lose any of His favor if I miss some days.
THREE A ritual or superstition.
A daily quiet time doesn’t keep bad things from happening from us. Missing a day doesn’t mean we’ll get hit by a bus. It’s not a good luck charm or insurance against illness and bad fortune.
FOUR Self-directed thoughts.
When some hear the term quiet time, they may think of a child’s nap-time or a time to turn the tv off and read a book. Or they may think of a time of meditation when they empty their minds, or time to concentrate on their goals for the day. But a quiet time is not a period of self-directed thoughts, but of God-directed thoughts. The Bible helps us with this. The point is, this is not me-time, but God-time. It’s not enough for you to set aside a “time” that is “quiet.”
The objective of a quiet time is to grow in our personal relationship with God, so that we can know Him, love Him more, and become more like Him.