Quiet Times

QUIET TIMES WITH GOD
This world that we live in is a noisy place. We make noise. Other people make noise. We are surrounded by traffic, television, music, and countless other noises. Our ears are usually getting hit by lots of noises at the same time, and much of this noise does nothing to glorify God. Have you ever heard the expression "I can't hear myself think."? Before the world gets so noisy that we can't hear ourselves think, we need to get away to spend quiet times with God. Even though we can think and speak God's Word with all this noise going on, we still need special times alone with God.

Isaiah 26:3
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on thee
because he trusteth in thee."

"Stayed" means "fastened down." God promises to keep you in perfect peace if your mind is fixed, fastened down on thoughts of God.

Let's look at Psalm 1:1&2:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

People whose lives are blessed are people who are able to separate themselves from the world to take time to concentrate on God. People who take time "day" and "night."

You can start your day alone with God before things get busy.
Jesus Christ did.

Mark 1:35: "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day,
he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."

David did too.

Psalm 5:3: "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up."

During the day, you can find a few refreshing minutes to spend with God.

Acts 10:9: "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour."

Peter was faithful to pray daily, to spend time alone with God. This verse is part of the record of the first outreach of God's Word to the Gentiles when Peter receives revelation to accompany these "on their journey" back to the house of Cornelius.

Jesus Christ spent time alone with God during the night.
Let's look at Luke 6:12 & 13 when Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing his 12 apostles:

"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles;"

In Psalm 119:148 see the importance King David put on spending time alone with God at night.

"Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word."

In this verse the word "prevent" means to "anticipate." David looked forward to the "watches" when the day's business would not interfere with concentrating on God and His Word.

The first verses of Psalm 63 put together a picture of taking time for God during the day. This shows the attitude of a "man after God's own heart" no matter what was going on in his life.

"O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
"To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
"Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
"Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
"My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
"When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
"Before thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
"My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me."

Take time to refresh yourself and get to know God. He's your father. In the shadow of His wings and in His sanctuary, you can find a peaceful spot to spend time together.

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