Why should I have a “Quiet Time”?

While certainly others could be listed, I would like to consider three main reasons why having a regular set aside time to seek God is vital to the lives of believers:
(1) A regular Quiet Time fosters a love for, and fellowship with, God.
(2) A regular Quiet Time is for our benefit.
(3) A regular Quiet Time is for the benefit of others.

This is the first of three brief episodes in a series addressing “the Why, the What, and the How of establishing an effective Quiet Time.”

First, it is good to answer the question, “what in the world do I mean by the phrase ‘quiet time'”?  While the second video will go into more detail of what a Quiet Time looks like, let me summarize it like this: A Quiet Time is a set aside time when you intentionally, actively seek God through actions such as reading the Bible, praying, and worshiping God.  The specifics of it will look different to each Christian.

So then, if a quiet time is basically a set aside time when I am seeking God, why is doing it regularly so important?  I would like consider three main reasons:

FIRST: A regular Quiet time Fosters a love for, and fellowship with, God

• When I am regularly seeking God and learning about Him, this naturally increases my heart towards Him.  How many times have we “wandered” into sin when we felt far God?  

SECOND: A regular Quiet time is For our benefit.

• We see this clearly in a multitude of ways throughout the Scriptures, but let us consider only a few:
  • A Quiet Time is beneficial for our Spiritual Growth: specifically, the Scriptures are God’s tool of sanctification – that is to be set apart to God, made more like Jesus
    • We read in Jesus’ prayer to the father, John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
    • Furthermore, in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  Where we need teaching, reproof, correction, and training for the Christian life, we learn that God has provided for us His Scriptures. 
  • A Quiet Time is beneficial for our Spiritual Worship: We read in [SCRIPTURE SLIDE] Romans 12:1-2 Paul’s appeal, “by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” — Every time we seek the Lord, we are called to present ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice.  And what follows is that when we have a regular quiet time and we regularly present ourselves to God, we have the opportunity for the Lord, through the shaping of the Scriptures for our minds to be renewed and our lives transformed.
  • A Quiet Time is beneficial for our Spiritual Food: Jesus, when tempted by Satan in the wilderness, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, states that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the Mouth of God.”
  • A Quiet Time is beneficial for our Spiritual Guidance:  We learn from Psalm 119:105 that God’s word is “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”
  • Finally, a Quiet Time is beneficial for our Spiritual Warfare: In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul’s discussion of the Armor of God and the war which wages for human souls, and that armor is “applied” when we seek Him!

And along the lines of that first reason – a regular quiet time fosters a love for God – so this new love replaces (or at least contends with) our sinful loves.  For more information, read “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection” by Thomas Chalmbers — see the below. ^[1]

A fascinating study was done by the Center for Bible Engagement looking at the use of the Bible in Christians’ lives.  What was amazing was that when Christians are in the Bible at least 4 times a week, some amazing changes take place in their lives.

• Here is small list of some of the key findings. People who were in the Scriptures at least 4 times a week were:
  • 30% less likely to struggle with loneliness 
  • 59% less likely to view pornography 
  • 407% more likely to memorize Scripture
  • 228% more likely to share faith with others ^[2]
• If you are interested in learning more, I have included the link to a video ^[3] as well as the website for the Center for Bible Engagement in the description below.

The THRID main reason why practicing a regular quiet time is so important is this: A regular Quiet time is For the benefit of others.

• You noticed the last stat I mentioned from that study – some 200% more likely to share your faith with others.  When we are in God’s Word, we begin to build a confidence in it.
• Remember 2 Timothy 3:17 – after saying how the Word of God is profitable for teaching, reproof, correcting and training in righteousness, we see Paul use a purpose clause – “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
  • You will not be equipped if you are not growing in the Word of God.  And on the flip side – every good work to which God has called you, he can equip you through His word!
  • Literally, wherever you are in the world, and in every context (whether school, work, home, with family, in the market, etc.),  your relationship with God is impacting how you think, how you feel, how you act, how you speak.
• Lastly, consider 1 Peter 3:15 where Peter says: “In your hearts honor Christ as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” — our defense is better established when we are better able to describe and articulate from the Scriptures the reason for the hope that is in us!

Conclusion:

• So my friend, why is having a regular Quiet Time important? It fosters a love for and fellowship with God, it is for my benefit, and it is for the benefit of others.
• Don’t forget to check out the other two videos in this short series.
  • What does a quiet time look like? That is the topic for the next video.
• Until next time, thank you so much for joining me today on Byte-Size Theology – “may the Lord bless you and keep you!”

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[1] “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection,” Thomas Chalmers
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[2] The Center for Bible Engagement

[3] Reading the Bible 4x per Week