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The Quiet Time: Legalistic Rule or Helpful Tool?

I’m not aware of a single Bible verse that commands us to have a daily quiet time. So if we’re looking for an excuse, we may be off the hook. And if we’re struggling with guilt over this practice, maybe we shouldn’t. After all, isn’t that a terrible motive for spending time with someone?

On the other hand, why wouldn’t we choose to spend at least a few minutes of dedicated time with God every day? Why would we tell the world that Jesus is the most important person in our lives while secretly treating Him like a stranger? I don’t want to discourage anyone. But I have to ask a question: Are we attempting to follow someone that we don’t enjoy being alone with? Continue reading “The Quiet Time: Legalistic Rule or Helpful Tool?”

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Do You Possess These 4 Qualities of a Bible Treasure Hunter?

How would your devotional life be different if you read the Bible expecting to find real treasure? The psalmist seems to have that attitude in mind when he says that God’s law is “better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” (Psalm 119:72)

What do you think? Is that just poetry? Or is it possible to cultivate a love for God’s Word that exceeds our desire for material wealth? And if it’s possible, what qualities must we have to routinely find treasure in the Bible? Continue reading “Do You Possess These 4 Qualities of a Bible Treasure Hunter?”

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7 Prayer Requests That Will Instantly Improve Your Daily Quiet Time

The most important discovery I ever made about the daily quiet time is that God provides a wealth of instant help. By “instant,” I mean – always available, whenever we want it, whenever we ask. As we read the Bible, we have the awesome privilege of asking God to make it come alive in our hearts.

There is a difference between casually reading the Bible during our quiet times and a more intensive Bible study. The focus of this article and this website is the daily quiet time. The suggestions below are not intended to take the place of digging deeper and applying good principles of interpretation. And I strongly believe in surrounding ourselves with good Bible teachers and scholarly resources. But no matter when we approach the Scriptures, we should develop the habit of asking for God’s help, as is modeled in Psalm 119.

If you want to get the most from your daily Bible reading, consider adding some, or all, of the following 7 prayer requests to your quiet time. Continue reading “7 Prayer Requests That Will Instantly Improve Your Daily Quiet Time”