The Bible has much to say about finding time for personal reflection – for quiet time. One of the most repeated passages in the Bible comes from the book of Psalms, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). This is a simple yet powerful passage about embodying quietude for spiritual growth.
For those of us striving for a greater understanding of our Divinity, quiet time is an essential component of a spiritually harmonious life.
The Bible teaches that the Lord is an ever-present source of support and guidance and that spending time in prayer and meditation can help us to have a closer relationship with Him.
In his writings, Matthew Henry said, “God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.”
In other words, when we actively seek out God’s voice in quiet contemplation, we are able to establish a closer connection between us and the ultimate source of love and knowledge.
The practicing of quiet time is also powerful and necessary for connecting us to our true selves.
Finding time in our daily lives to become more aware of our thoughts, our emotions, our actions, and our motivations can give rise to a deeper understanding of ourselves.
By becoming closer to our core selves this way, we can cultivate an understanding of our minds, our hearts, our purpose, and our life’s direction.
Quiet time can also be used for self-care and healing. Spending a few moments of mindful awareness can give us the clarity to process through our thoughts and feelings and emotionally and mentally recharge for the day ahead.
If we do not take time to replenish our hearts and minds, our lives can easily become chaotic and we can feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges.
All in all, the Bible speaks to the power of drawing apart from life’s distractions in order to seek the Lord and ourselves.
Quiet time is a beneficial way to become closer to God, to learn about who we are, and to tap into our inner reserves for strength and healing.
In order to live an abundant life, both spiritually and emotionally, it is essential to practice the sacred art of quiet.
Benefits of Quiet Time
It is widely known that quiet time yields far-reaching benefits for your mental, spiritual, and emotional development.
Quiet time carving out a block of moments that are specifically dedicated to stillness and/or prayerfully meditating can give you a profound sense of peace and clarity that can be difficult to otherwise find in the hustle and bustle of your daily life.
Moreover, taking the time to spend with yourself in quiet can potentially reveal how your beliefs, thoughts, and feelings interact and influence each other and can help you to gain insight into yourself as well as potential issues that need to be addressed in your life.
Additionally, if your quiet time includes prayer, the results can be even more spiritually powerful – it can provide solace, fortitude, and healing to your soul.
Most importantly, when done on a regular basis, quiet time helps to form a deep relationship between one’s spirit, mind, and soul, allowing a person to strengthen their connection to the Lord and gain new understanding from the world around them. In his book, “A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God,” Eugene Peterson states, “The invitation to prayer implies an invitation to a new way of being and thinking, a personal transformation from within.”
Quite time is a powerful practice that can help an individual to cultivate a deeper and more meaningful relationship with the Lord, with themselves, and with their environment.
Steps to Doing Quiet Time
Quiet time doesn’t have to be complicated. If this is something you want to incorporate into your daily life, the following steps can help you to get started.
First, decide how much time you would like to spend during your quiet time. A good starting point is anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, but ultimately it is up to you.
Second, choose a place and time of day where and when you can practice quietude without interruption. It can be indoors or outdoors, in the morning or at night – whatever works best for you.
Third, if you are doing quiet time solely for silent reflection, simply sit in stillness or, if you would like to include prayer, you can speak your thoughts aloud.
Fourth, if the thoughts start to drift away, don’t fret – this is ok. The point here is to practice being comfortable with silence, even if it feels uncomfortable at times.
Finally, be sure to keep track of your progress. Track the time that you spend during quiet time as well as any reflections that you receive during the process and build on them from week to week.
Examples of Quiet Time Activities
Quiet time doesn’t have to look like a meditative prayer session or strict contemplation. Possibilities of activities that one can do during their quiet time are limitless. Here are a few examples to help you get started:
Journaling is one great way to reflect and organize your thoughts and feelings while spending quality time with yourself.
Prayer, whether it is repeating your favorite prayer or speaking to God from the heart, can be incredibly productive.
Reading from the Bible is another activity that one can engage in during their quiet time. It offers you a way to connect with God and His divine plan for your life.
Another activity that can be done during quite times is Biblical meditation. This requires you to read a scripture passage slowly, paying close attention to the words and their hidden meanings.
Engaging in any form of art, such as painting, can also be therapeutic. Not only does this activity involve calming your mind, but it also takes creativity and mindfulness, both of which can help to balance your emotions and increase your connection with yourself.
Sacroficing Quiet Time in the Bible
Sacrificing quiet time is an essential part of cultivating a strong relationship with God. The Bible draws many parallels between quiet and servants. Abraham is described as “an exceedingly quiet man” (Genesis 25:27).
The prophet Elijah, says, “in quietness and faith your strength shall be” (Isaiah 30:15). Jesus Christ himself encountered the devil’s temptation in the wilderness and emerged victorious after numerous long nights of meditating with the Lord in prayer.
From this we can assume that quiet can be an expansive tool in attaining a deeper connection with the divine. There is a unique sort of strength and peace that comes from the stillness of being alone, allowing us to truly listen to and understand God’s will for our lives.
The Bible also emphasizes that achieving this higher state of communion is not necessarily easy. Jesus himself would often retreat to the wilderness for extended periods of time in order to meditate and fast. Likewise, the prophet Elijah had to flee to the wilderness in order to hide away and receive revelations from the Lord.
What this teaches us is that if we truly want to establish a greater depth of understanding within our relationship with the Lord, we must set aside time in our busy lives for true solitude and reflection. As Jesus says, “All things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27).
Tools for Cultivating Quiet Time
Now that you understand the importance of having a regular quiet time practice, it is important to know which tools and resources can help you to stay consistent and accountable.
There are many platforms nowadays that offer simple and effective resources to help people make the most out of their quiet time.
Examples of these include journaling apps, prayer and bible reading guides, as well as audio content to help listeners relax and relieve stress.
Our great Lord also provides us with wonderful reminders that can keep us accountable.
Matthew 6:6 states “When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.”
This passage reminds us of the value and importance of retreating into solitude – something that is becoming increasingly difficult in the age of technology.
Finally, regular practice is key for allowing moments of reflection to transform into a life-giving habit.
Anything that is established as a habit is significantly easier to maintain due to the power of neuroplasticity.
In other words, the more times you actively practice something, like having a regular quiet time practice, the easier and more natural it will become.
We hope that these tools and resources will help as you embark on your journey to have a meaningful and fulfilling quiet time experience.
A husband of one wife, father of two beautiful girls, laborer of Lord, Jesus Christ, and a servant to God’s His saints. I hope to encourage you by God’s grace. Thank you for stopping by.
