A "Quiet Time" is your personal time alone with God.

1. Why have a Quiet Time?

1. Jesus needed it. (See Matthew 14:23.) He needed that time alone with God. Do you?
2. Read John 15:5 and Joshua 1:8. The only way you can have true success in life is to abide (spend time with, live with) Him, and with His word.
   1. Success in heaven depends on faith in Jesus; success on earth requires that we also abide with Him and His word.
3. Study Isaiah 64:1-8. Write down the reasons for having a quiet time.
4. Memorize Psalm 119:147. Keep it by your bed, and by your place for Quiet Times.
5. Lack of consistent Quiet Times is never an issue of time -- it's always an issue of priorities.
6. Meditate on how regular Quiet Times would change your life.
7. Determine to do it. Make a decision that you will do it every day. It will never happen until you make this decision.
8. From these verses, list the characteristics of a quiet time (where, when, who, how long, what do you do):

     Genesis 19:27       Joshua 1:8           1 Samuel 1:17-20

     Job 11:13-15        Job 23:3-5           Psalms 4:4

     Psalms 63:1         Psalms 77:6          Psalms 86:11-12

     Psalms 95:6         Psalms 118:28        Psalms 119:11

     Psalms 119:15       Psalms 119:33        Psalms 119:35

     Psalms 119:47       Psalms 119:59        Psalms 119:92

     Psalms 119:99       Psalms 119:131       Psalms 119:147

     Psalms 130:5        Psalms 139:14        Psalms 145:2

     Psalms 146:2        Proverbs 2:3-5       Proverbs 4:20-22

     Isaiah 26:9         Isaiah 55:3          Isaiah 64:4

     Jeremiah 29:13      Jeremiah 32:33       Lament. 3:25-26

     Lamentations 3:40   Daniel 6:10          Micah 7:7

     Matthew 7:7-8       Matthew 11:28        Matthew 14:23

     Luke 6:12           Luke 11:9-10         John 16:24

     Acts 17:11          1 Cor. 11:28,31      James 1:5

     James 4:2-3

2. Preparation

1. When? Early morning or late at night (any other time can't be consistent for 7 days).
   1. Early morning is preferred.
   2. It needs to be without distractions or interruptions.
2. How long? Allow preferably an hour, but at least half an hour.
3. Where? Have it in the same place each time to develop consistency.
4. Get a notebook. Keep 2 sections. In one, keep specific prayer requests (and answers!). In the other, keep notes from your Quiet Time prayers and study of His Word. Write down each day what God is saying to you.
5. Get 3x5 cards. Write down on each card people or groups, and regular prayer requests for them. For example, keep a card for each member of your family, and what you want to regularly pray for them.

3. Allow the Holy Spirit to work

1. "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) Listen. See what God brings to your heart. Take time during your Quiet Time to listen.
2. Look to see what God is saying to you. Search for it, ponder it, meditate on it, think about it, and write it down in your notebook.

4. Pray

1. Praise Him - acknowledge His wonderful power, love, purity, grace, etc.
2. Ask Him to reveal our sins, and to cleanse you (I John 1:9, Psalm 139:23-24).
3. Thank Him - for your family, health, church, home, etc.
   1. Set a day of the week for each child and spouse, to pray for them specifically.
   2. Do the same for friends and family members, too.
4. Tell of your specific needs or concerns.
5. Ask God to reveal what He wants to teach you today.
6. Pray over the passage you read.
7. Ask Him for wisdom.
8. Ask Him to use you in any way He pleases. (Isaiah 6:8)
9. Keep a dialogue with God through your Quiet Time.

5. Read and study God's Word

1. Study from a translation of the Bible easy for you to understand (NKJV, NASB, NIV, ...).
2. Choose what to study. For example, study a book of the bible, study the Sunday School material, use a book that has daily devotions. Use study aids like commentaries.
3. As you study each passage, ask who, what, when, why, how, where of the passage. Write it down in your notebook.
4. Use tools such as commentaries to help in your studies.

6. Memorize scripture

1. Select a verse that will help you overcome a struggle, learn a truth, etc.
2. Write it on a 3 x 5 card exactly as printed in Scripture.
3. Give it a subject title (e.g. Overcome temptation - Romans 12:21).
4. Always memorize from the same translation of the Bible.
5. Memorize it word for word. Otherwise, you won't remember it.
6. Memorize a few words at a time.
7. Review verses you have already memorized. Keep them together.

7. Remember

1. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." - James 4:8
2. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; But in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." - Proverbs 3:5-6
3. "like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation," - 1 Peter 2:2
4. "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me." -- Proverbs 8:17
5. "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as Eagles, they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." -- Isaiah 40:31
6. Every day God longs for this time with you. He gets there before you do, and waits for you to arrive. Don't leave Him disappointed.