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How to have a quiet time Part One

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by superwoman8977, Oct 7, 2008.

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  1. superwoman8977

    superwoman8977 New Member

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    By Rick Warren


    2008/10/03


    How to Have a Quiet Time (Part 1)
    by Rick Warren



    “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

    *** *** *** ***

    Once you’re convinced that a daily quiet time is necessary for spiritual growth, how do you go about having one? You may be motivated to do it but may not know how.

    Start with the proper attitudes
    In God’s eyes, why you do something is far more important than what you do.

    On one occasion God told Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). It is quite possible to do the right thing but with the wrong attitude.

    This was Amaziah’s problem, for “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly” (2 Chronicles 25:2).

    When you come to meet with God in a quiet time, you should have these proper attitudes:

    •Expectancy – Come before God with anticipation and eagerness. Expect to have a good time of fellowship with him and receive a blessing from your time together. That was what David expected: “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you” (Psalm 63:1).

    •Reverence – Don’t rush intoGod’s presence, but prepare your heart by being still before him and letting the quietness clear away the thoughts of the world. Listen to the prophet Habakkuk: “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him” (Habakkuk 2:20; see also Psalm 89:7). Coming into the presence of the Lord is not like going to a football game or some other form of entertainment.

    •Alertness – Get wide-awake first. Remember that you are meeting with the Creator, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Redeemer of men. Be thoroughly rested and alert. The best preparation for a quiet time in the morning begins the night before. Get to bed early so you will be in good shape to meet God in the morning; he deserves your full attention.

    •Willingness to obey – This attitude is crucial: you don’t come to your quiet time to choose what you will do or not do, but with the purpose of doing anything and everything that God wants you to do. Jesus said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17). So come to meet the Lord having already chosen to do his will no matter what.
     
    #1 superwoman8977, Oct 7, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 7, 2008
  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Each of these points are based on the false idea that we need to meet with God as if we are n one place and He is on another. This is incorrect.

    1Jo 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

    We do not move into God's presence, we do not come before God, nor do we do not meet with God. Since we have the Spirit of God living in us He is always there. We are never without Him we are only to submit to Him. Prayer does not bring us into the presence of God. Music does not bring us into the presence of God. Praise does not bring us into the presence of God. We remain in His presence eternally so long as we are under the blood. The one single thing that brings us into the presence of God is the blood of Christ.
     
    #2 Revmitchell, Oct 7, 2008
  3. superwoman8977

    superwoman8977 New Member

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    Then I guess you and I were raised very differently because this devotion this morning to me isnt false. I have to come to the Lord He just doesnt appear in front of me.
     
    #3 superwoman8977, Oct 7, 2008
  4. dan e.

    dan e. New Member

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    I think what the Rev. is saying is that we do not have to "go" anywhere to be with God. Because of the Holy Spirit, God is always with us and we are always with God if we are believers.

    I think the lingo that uses the terms "approach God" , and the like, are mainly just metaphors for interacting with Him. In reality....we are always with God if we have the Holy Spirit in us.
     
    #4 dan e., Oct 7, 2008
  5. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Yes, God is always with us but I do think that it is important to take some of these ideas and use them.

    My husband is pretty much always with me (or readily available to me) but we do not count that as intimacy all the time. We take the time to get away just the two of us to talk, to spend time together, to share and to be intimate in ways that we are not throughout the course of the day. We approach these times as very different and we honestly see each other differently during these moments (well, atleast I do).

    I see my quiet time in a very similar light. I'm making a special time to communicate and spend time with the Lord. It's different than my day to day running around. It's focused, hopefully not broken up and distracted, and it's deeper than my normal communication during the day and night.
     
    #5 annsni, Oct 7, 2008
  6. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    My quiet time is bringing my consciousness into the presence of God. In other words, I sit or stand quietly and say nothing. I allow my mind to synchronize with what I perceive to be the mind of God.

    I read scripture as if I had never seen it before. I take the message I receive at that moment without regard to previous interpretations.

    I follow my own advice as shown below each message. I wait in silence for God to speak.

    I do not use my quiet time to pray for other's needs. I am very sefish about it and concentrate on me and God in the tabernacle of peace.

    There is no question that God is always there, but sometimes I am like Peter and the water falls out from beneath me as I try walking on water.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #6 Jim1999, Oct 7, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 7, 2008
  7. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    I think the point being made is that it is important for us to make time with God a priority, and that we do that by being intentional and "prepared"--not that we are worthy to stand before God...but that we remove ourselves from distractions, and that we set aside time to talk to, and listen to, our Heavenly Father.

    And there is the idea of us "entering the presence of God." (Such as Psalms 100: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise." Is God with us constantly? Of course. But I understand the picture painted in Ps. 100, and elsewhere.
     
    #7 rbell, Oct 7, 2008
  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    There is much more intellectually honest language that can be used to address this. These metaphors are at best incorrect. What we say and how we express things are of the utmost importance.
     
    #8 Revmitchell, Oct 7, 2008
  9. skypair

    skypair Active Member

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    Hey Rev -- I am very sorry you feel you must interfere with another believer's reverence to God with your "methodolgy." FTR, I do as superwoman does every morning (well, almost). I did it with my kids when I was home schooling every morning and -- Whoa! -- what a blessing!

    I realize an "academic" like yourself might think it somewhat "simplistic" but there is a "simplicity in Christ," you know. :wavey:

    skypair
     
    #9 skypair, Oct 7, 2008
  10. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    I tend to agree with you, Rev. M. I see Rick Warren's points - but I think the more people make of things like this, the easier it is to fall into a false spirituality. That is, if you do these things, you start to feel "spiritual."

    Personally, I pray to God at any moment when something comes to mind -- sometimes I'm driving, sometimes talking to someone (and need to pray because I'm witnessing or having a difficult interaction), other times when I'm fixing dinner, making the bed, etc. I think the interaction with the Lord should be natural and sponataneous.

    Of course, we should always have a reverent attitude towards the Lord, but if we try to do this just at certain times, I think it can be forced and phony.
     
    #10 Marcia, Oct 7, 2008
  11. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    Your point is well-taken, and I believe that's what Revmitchell means as well. I would not have used the phrase "intellectually honest" as he did in clarifying it, though... because I think that in motivating people to spend time talking to and listening to God, the terminology used in the OP registers with us, and we can operate from that. I would hope that we all have the goal in common of seeing fellow believers make their time with God of paramount importance.
     
    #11 rbell, Oct 7, 2008
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