Time Alone with God

Kenny at Sungai Nibong Cell

Have you ever noticed that there are differences in believers? Some rush around with burdened hearts and worried minds. Others seem to have a tranquility about them no matter what is going on around them. What brings this tranquility of spirit? The single greatest factor is the practice of having a daily quiet time.

Take a moment and reflect. How we prioritize our day reflect on who we really are. Do you act on what you have to do first or what you like to do? Some will clear the necessary and enjoy without distraction what they like to do. Others enjoy first, then work on the necessary. Often, they use the phrase "I work better under pressure" Or the way you eat. Eat what you don't really like and save the best bits for the last bites.

But these are things we do. What about relationships? I've seen many parents shoo their child away, when they run up to ask something. "Daddy's busy, they bark." And you can always see the disappointment in the child's face. Or husbands who prefer time with their friends rather than their spouse. It says a lot about what's important in our life. What about our time for the Lord? Going to church, coming to cell, going to prayer meeting and even being at the Board Meeting or Leader's Meeting is not time with God, in the sense of what we're looking at tonight. Those are often still activity-centric. What we want to look at tonight is the one-to-one time. Time with the person you say you love with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul.

Psalms 23:2 tells us that "He leads me (causes me to) lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters"

Notice it is God that makes the first move. He takes the initiative by calling us and leading us to a place of rest. It's not because we are seeking God, but that He is seeking us.

Just as God's cry to the wayward Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" suggests God is always seeking us out. And the picture we get when we are at the place God is leading us is a place of calm, peace and tranquility. The image of still waters emphasizes the concept of rest, a place of safety and security, a place of contentment.

Deep within all of us is a restlessness that can only be removed by God. An emptiness and loneliness that only He can permanently fill. A thirst that only He can quench. He is that living waters from which we will never thirst again.

And what are those green pastures and quiet waters to which God leads us? The bible says God Himself is our "true pastures" in Jeremiah 50:7.

So for us to find that green pasture and quiet waters, we must come to Him and find rest. And how do we do that? It is found in taking time to be alone with God.

Jesus is the perfect example. Notice how so often, he would go off alone to seek the Father.

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray'" (Matthew 26:36).

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35).

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16).

This is His quiet time with the Father. A place of intimacy, a place of renewal and a place of perfect rest.

Quiet Time - The Outer Challenge

We all live in a very busy world. Where activities often supersede the relationships. Where what we do can become more important than who we are. The noise level is deafening. And in a world like that it is so hard to find a place where we can be alone and away from the distractions of the world. The TV remotes, the smartphones, the computers all clamor for our attention, and we are seldom more than an hour away from them in our waking hours. But making time for daily devotion is critical to hearing God!

Quiet Time - The Inner Challenge

Quiet time involves an inner state of being, as well as an outward condition. Have you ever noticed that when you sit down to read your Bible or pray, your mind begins to wander or you suddenly remember what you needed at the store? Or what you have to do tomorrow? Inner "noise" can be just as troublesome as outer noise when it comes to having quiet time with God. Defeating the inner noise can be done, but it requires commitment and discipline.

Quiet Time - What is it?

With all the noise of the day, quiet time could refer to those precious moments after the kids are in bed, or all the day's work is done. But for Christians, a quiet time is more than that. Quiet time, or devotion time, refers to our daily appointment with God, when we shut out as much outside interference as possible. During our quiet time, we may sing praise songs, pray, read Scripture or daily devotions, meditate on God's Word, or simply be still and listen. Making that appointment is one thing; keeping it is something else entirely!

Proper Place and Time

Get alone and sit at Jesus' feet. Find a place where you can focus. Jesus said enter into your closet and pray (see Matthew 6:6). That simply means find a place of isolation where you can shut the door on the world and open the windows to heaven. Jesus sought out places where He could be alone, and so should you. It should be a place that offer you some privacy. Pick a time when there will be no interruptions. For many it's the early hours or the after the world sleeps. But it should be a time when you are still alert.

Proper Provisions

In order to have an effective quiet time, you need the right tools. You need a Bible. This is when God often speaks to you and many times, it is through His word. If you play a musical instrument, have it with you. I love the guitar, it does not wake up the whole neighborhood and is the perfect accompaniment in singing hymns, psalms and worship and praise songs to God. Have a place where you can jot notes or record things you learn. I love the digital bible as it allows me to add colour coded notes so easily.

Proper Practice

Finally, may I recommend some practices to follow in your quiet time? There is no hard and fast rules but here are some guide.

1. Praise and Thanksgiving
We have so much to thank God for and this is the perfect time to express them. You may sing your praises. The presence of God will just fill your room or wherever you are.

2. Read your Bible
Learn to use a bible reading plan or do topical studies. Read the Bible for quality and not quantity. It's good to have a goal to read the Bible through in a year, or a similar goal; but that's not the purpose of your quiet time. Reading the bible should never be rushed. Also, devotional books are wonderful. But again, this is not the place for them. This is the time when you simply read the Bible with an open mind.

3. Meditate on God's Word
As you focus on the Word of God and meditate, let it permeate you. Ask:
• Is there a command to obey?
• Is there a promise to claim?
• Is there a sin to avoid?
• Is there a lesson to learn?
• Is there a new truth to carry with me?

4. Pray
When you pray, pour out your soul. Be natural and honest with God. Tell Him how you feel. Pray not just for yourself but for others, your family, your friends, your church. When you hear of a need, note them down and bring them before God during your quiet time. Very often, when I get an update sms from Pastor, if I am alone, I just drop what I do and pray for that need, then in your quiet time, pray again.

Christianity is not a legal relationship, it is a love relationship. Ten thousand “don'ts” will never make you one bit more like the Lord Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Himself Who makes you to be like Him. But you need to spend time with Him. I pray tonight's lesson will help all of us draw closer to Him and we take time to be alone with God.