MAKE AND ENJOY QUIET TIMES WITH GOD

In our hectic world it seems that there is no such thing as "quiet time," but there is a way to find and protect such periods of tranquillity, especially time we spend with our God, in prayer. Establish - or re-establish - your prayer life with a considered plan of action.

Introduce yourself to God in prayer. Tell Him what's on your mind. Tell Him you are ready to begin - or begin again - a prayer relationship. Don't worry about saying it right, being in the right place, or at the right time. Come as you are.

Don't worry. Don't try so hard that your quiet time becomes a burden. It should be a joyful time when you are with God.

Make friends with silence. Begin a day's devotional time by sitting quietly. Set aside a few minutes for quiet communion with God, unworried by words and unhurried by agenda. Don't worry about saying anything or accomplishing something.

Approach God confidently. Come to your quiet time with anticipation. Expect to meet God. Expect that He will take what you say into account. Expect that He will be able to do something about what you say.

Read the Bible. Read it not only for information, but for your own transformation. Ask, when you have read a portion of the Scripture, What would God have me learn from this about Him? About myself? How I live as His servant?

Pray the Lord's Prayer. Say it in a fresh new light. Say each petition separately, then contemplate what that simple phrase means, and what God's response might be.

Prime the pump. Use other prayers to get you going when you just can't seem to begin your own prayers - or if you are unaccustomed to praying. Collections of prayers are available at any Christian bookstore. Hymnals and worship books contain useful prayers. Periodicals devoted to daily devotions, such as The Upper Room or Our Daily Bread, [and GOSHEN's www. Devotionals.net] are valuable sources. See such prayers as supplements to your own. Read them slowly and meditate on them. Concentrate on their meaning. Don't let the archaic language of ancient prayers delight you - or distract you.

Sing songs. Hymns and praise songs can enrich your quiet time. Listen to tapes and CDs of great church music. Sing your favorites. Take a pertinent Biblical passage and, instead of saying it, sing it to a favorite tune - or in your own musical terms.

Use the Psalms as cue cards. They can help you bring a wide range of emotions into your devotions. Add your own personal verses to the ones of the psalmist.

Use the newspaper. Come to God with the daily press and broadcast news programs; and pray for the sorrows and needs of the world. Turn them into fervent prayers.

Prioritize. Make prayer a big enough priority that you plan it in your daily life, even when it's not easy.

Timothy Jones is an author, editor, and speaker specializing in the spiritual life. He was managing editor for Moorings, and prior to that was an editor for Christianity Today magazine for six years and a pastor for almost eight years. He has written The Art of Prayer, Celebration of Angels, and The Friendship Connection. Tim and his wife, Jill, have three children and live in Nashville.

Taken from 21 Days to a Better Quiet Time with God by Timothy Jones. Copyright (c) by Timothy Jones. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49530, 1-800-727-3480.

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