Quite Time + Bible Study

The above photo is cultivating. When I look at it, I'm instantly get jealous. It's not because the woman in the photo is at a coffee shop (a place I always enjoy because of the fresh coffee smells that linger throughout the room and that sweet treats that always hit the spot). I envy the lady in the photo because she looks so at PEACE. She looks appears calm...enjoying the quietness around her.

Quite Time. I need more of it. It's that simple. I haven't been making it a priority in my life recently and I can tell a difference. I am filled with more anxiety, and finding myself worrying more and more each day. I need to spend more one-on-one time with God. I need to grow and linger in his presence more each day. This is my goal. This is my desire...to become a  better person through my relationship with him.

But how do you make  your time with God valuable? How do you use each minute you have to it's fullest? How do you have quite time? Well these are just some of the questions I used to ask. I can know say I have a pretty solid foundation that has worked for me and I hope that it is helpful to you. :)

1. Purposely set aside time. I try to make an appointment with God in the mornings by reading a devotional or two when I get into work, but if that doesn't work for you, find a time that does...even if it's not every day! Some days the mornings don't work for me, so I use the first few moments when I get into bed at night to spend with God. The time you set aside does not have to be long either! There are days when I only spend five minutes with God, and others when I spend an hour or two with him...but every minute is a good one.

2. Make preparation for your Quite time and Bible study. Find a place that you enjoy being--whether that be a coffee shop or a room in your house where you can be alone. Sometimes I use my car as my "meeting place". It can literally be anywhere that your little heart desires, just as long as you make sure you are not going to be distracted by the things going on around you. Sometimes preparing my quite time to take place at home is not the best decision for me because I am constantly distracted by what's on TV or by my Miller wanting to play. So I prepare for my time AHEAD of time.

3. Have all your materials available and on hand. You'll want your Bible, of course, but also get a good Bible dictionary, journal, devotional, pen/highlighter and paper. Get whatever materials you think you will need. It doesn't have to be everything I listed! Instead of a devotional, I use a notebook that I use for "prayers and praises". Just have what you need so that you can take note of things you come across during your quite time.

4. Prepare your heart. Talk to God about things you may need to confess, and enter your quite time  relaxed and at peace; without anything that may block you from hearing God during your Bible study.

5. Take the time to study the Word. You can't become the person God wants you to be if you don't take the time to get to know him first! The good thing is, there is no time frame or limit to how much time you study the Word. It's all up to YOU. Things are pretty much in your hands. You make the calls. But it's like any friendship, you have to devote time into it for it to grow and be where you want it to be. It's the same with God and reading the Word. You have to MAKE time to study so that you learn and are challenged and pushed to the next level. It's hard, and it's not always fun, but the outcome is SO worth it.

I hope that overtime you see the power of quite time and Bible study. I hope that you are pushed to the end of your ropes, and grow stronger in your faith. I would love for you to pray that I continue to make more time for quite time...and to be a continual influence on others.