Encounter God In a Daily Quiet Time

“When these birthday parties ended—and sometimes they lasted several days—Job would summon his children to him and sanctify them, getting up early in the morning and offering a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and turned away from God[a] in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.” – Job 1:5. 

Do you remember the day you chose to put your trust in Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior? It was the best decision you will ever make. Other Christians were excited for you. They want to help you grow in your relationship with God, so with the best intentions, they will suggest you start reading the Bible and having a quiet time with God. That is good advice. Spending time daily with God through reading the Bible and praying cultivates a real, personal love relationship with your Creator and Savior. It is one of the best ways to have a daily encounter with God. 

Quiet time with God is simply spending time with Him. Thinking about Him. Talking to Him. Listening to Him.  There are no requirements for the length of time or time of day. Scripture simply invites us into a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father. What that time looks like is up to you. If you have 1 hour every day to spend with God, great. If you only have 3 minutes before your children find you hiding in the bathroom, great. God will meet you wherever you are. While a daily morning quiet time is ideal, you can have profound encounters with God while on break at work, while driving to the store, doing the dishes or listening to a podcast. We should not get hung up on things like how long we read or prayed or if we are using the right materials. God doesn’t care about any of that. He just wants a daily encounter with you. 

There are so many benefits/perks of spending quiet time with God. Spend quiet time with God on a regular basis, if not daily, and your life will change. First, God takes pleasure when we spend time in the Word and fellowship with Him in prayer. Psalm 147:11 says, “No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Secondly, your trust in God grows. You can’t trust God unless you know Him. The only way to truly know Him is by spending time in the Word and really basking in who God is. The more time you spend with someone, the more like them you will become. The same is true of God. As you saturate yourself with Scripture, you will become more Christ-like. 

And lastly, God will reveal areas that you need to grow. Scripture is like a mirror that gives us a reflection of our hearts. God uses Scripture to pierce the soul: “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

Forming this time into your daily schedule will not be easy. Nothing of value is ever easy. The main objective for any of us is disciplining ourselves to have a quiet time every day. Over time, it becomes a habit that is easily repeated. Even better, it will soon become the best and most productive part of your day.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you have a regular quiet time? Why or why not?
2. What different ways have you tried to intentionally connect with God? Were some more meaningful or impactful than others? Why do you think that might be?
3. What would it take for you to make this a priority in your life?