Does your quiet time need revival? Maybe it needs a complete overhaul? Maybe it needs resuscitation. Here are some ideas to help you revitalize your quiet time or as I call it communion time, since it is the time when I commune with God and He communes with me.
Focus first, on putting yourself in God’s presence by remembering who He is. Maybe focus each day on a certain attribute of God. E.g. love, justice, mercy, faithfulness, or power and praise Him for this. Or you might focus on the names of God and exactly what they mean to you and praise Him for that.
Then pray before your open the Bible that God will reveal Himself to you and make His Word clear to you. Rather than play bible roulette, opening at a bible passage at random. I suggest you have a set plan of daily readings. There are several online you can download free. This is the one I currently use, though I don’t read it all four passages, only one or two. I prefer to read mine without reading the commentary and other people’s thoughts about what the passage is saying, so I am coming to the passage fresh and letting God speak directly to me.
Firstly read the whole passage in context, looking at what goes before and after and see what was happening in the times, who the situation involved and what general truths you can learn from it BEFORE you try and apply it to your own life. Record these thoughts in a journal.
Then read the passage again, this time slowly – a few verses at a time. Stop and meditate on them seeing what God has to say to you. A journal is helpful for recording these thoughts. See if there is anything you to need to change or pray about or confess in your life. Focus on specific words and phrases. E.g. to ‘abide’ in Christ, John 15:7 – what does that mean to you?
Let that bible reading and those specific words influence your prayer. Ask God to show you clearly how to make this passage relevant to your life and situation. Ask God for someone with whom you can share what you have learned.
Bible verses from New American Standard Version
How to Deal with Guilt- Part 1
The names of God -Jehovah the Great I Am
10 Tips for Combating Negative Feelings and Improving Your Quiet Time
Book Review- Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy