Proud eyes and a proud heart are the lamp of sinful people.But those things are evil. The plans of people who work hard succeed. You can be sure that those in a hurry will become poor. (Proverbs 21:4-5 NIrV)
Pastor Rick Warren (Saddleback Church in California)says
"Having a quiet time is like many other activities you might do in life — in at least one respect. To be successful, it helps to have a plan."
1. Initially, having quiet time means just that: be quiet. Sit and just quiet down before the Lord and allow Him to put you in a frame of mind to hear from Him.
2. Then, pray. Ask God to forgive any wrongdoings, cleanse your heart and mind. Let Him know how much you love Him and seek His guidance.
3. Now, slowly read a portion of Scripture. Don't get too spiritual here. Short, sweet and effective. There are many Bible reading plans and on-line devotions to share. There are also many good guides in local Christian bookstores. I even wrote a short 30-day devotional for others to use!
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4. Then we should meditate on the Word. Meditate in this sense does not mean to empty our minds of everything as some recommend. Here we are to fill our minds with God's Word and His direction. Think about what He has spoken.
5. Now, write down what you discover. Journaling is a great way to record spiritual growth. It reminds us what God God has done and how we come to trust Him. Is time with the Creator not worth recording? It is helpful to even go back and remember from time to time.
So what is your plan today . . . tomorrow . . . next week . . . the coming year?
Is God included?
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