I’ve tried the Walk-Thru-The-Bible deal. Chronological Bible. I’ve spent time with Oswald. I’ve tried to drink from the “Streams in the Desert.” Daily Bread. Youthwalk stuff. Yes, thank you very much, I “know” Jesus had quiet times where he got away by himself and prayed. Yes, I even know that Jesus did it “very early in the morning” [Mark 1.35]. But they don’t work.
Sure, they work for a week. Maybe 2 [what is it, 6 weeks that makes a habit?]. But eventually, I forget, feel pretty okay with that, and then the routine is broken. When I was in high school, I made myself do “daily devotions” for a month straight. I liked it. It was actually going well, and then I got sick. Didn’t touch them for a week. And you know what? My days felt the same. I couldn’t relate to my church friends: “Oh, my days are just so much better when I do my quiet times before I go to school…the days that I forget, wow — they are horrible!” I noticed no difference.
So, I’ve always sucked. I still suck.
I’m a youth pastor. I encourage my students to spend time in the Word, to spend time talking with God; although, I don’t ask if they’ve “done their quiet times.” Yet, I find it so hard to spend time studying Scripture. I like getting new Bibles. One of my church’s volunteers just brought me The Message//Remix (he got it from the YS convention). I love it! But have I read from it yet? No.
Talked to a friend this evening. We were both lamenting the fact that we “know” we should be spending time with God, in prayer, by immersing ourselves in the Story of God. Yet, we don’t. And we feel bad about that because we both have drilled into our minds that we are supposed to do daily devotionals. Quiet times are important. Now, we both know you don’t have to do works to be saved. That’s a no-brainer.
Or is it?
Has the Christian culture fed us a lie? They tell us that we are saved solely by grace — then why do my friend and I have these thoughts of guilt in our minds? Some might say “Well, that’s just God convicting you, that you’re not spending enough time with Him.” Okay…maybe. But perhaps it’s just a built-in guilt-mechanism, that really has no warrant.
I don’t think God cares about 15 minutes in the morning.
I don’t think God cares whether or not I do a daily devotional.
So what am I going to do? I’m sick of a guilt that comes most likely not from God, but from a works-based Christian culture that tells me I need to spend x-amount of minutes/day to get my God-fix. So I think I’m done with quiet times. I quit.
So, does that mean I’m not spending time with God throughout the day? Hell no! (To quote Paul from Romans 6.2) That just means that I’m not going to allow myself to think there is one way to spend time with God (I know, these aren’t amazingly profound words, but…oh well). Quiet times don’t work for me. Daily devotionals don’t work. And I’m not going to let that get me down anymore. God wants to know me. God wants to be known. And that can happen in an endless amount of ways — and what could be more exciting than going through life looking for new and meaningful ways to connect with God, to experience God? Rather than waking up 30 minutes earlier [I doubt God is even up before 8am anyway] and being content with a 15-min/day spirituality…
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God doesn’t get up before 8am? I always knew I liked Him.
Liberation, baby! Preach it! I usually watch porn in the morning. . . .
Don’t you just love trying to get freedom from the Jesus and Me spirituality that so often gets forced on us when we were students? I too am a youth pastor, and I too struggle to make enough time to spend with God, but I am past feeling guilty because someone else trys to impose methods on me that don’t work for me.
Yes, Jesus took time to get away and be with his Father. Sometimes it was in the morning. Other times, it was after a particularly trying group activity. Some periods were short. One lasted 40 days.
But he didn’t have a “schedule”. It wasn’t a period of time each and every day at the exact same time, following a prescribed order of actions.
If you’re the type of person who likes that sort of tight schedule, then go for it. Nothing wrong with it at all. But it’s not the only way or the only right way.
In my life, I’ve found that once I stopped spending quiet time because “I have to”, I actually ended up spending more and better time with God than I had previously. It might not be every day. But some days, it lasts all day. It depends on where I am, what’s going on, and where God would have me be.
I was highly influenced by (don’t laugh) A.W. Tozer who wrote about “the sacrement of living”. If the definition of prayer is “communication with God” then we have no choice but to “pray continually” since everything we do conveys a message to God (i.e. I like you, I hate your creation, etc.). Make sure that what you communicate to God, he wants to hear.
This was a wonderful thing to read. I’m so sick of hearing that just because I’m a Christian and want to go into ministry that I should be having “quiet times.” What point is there to settleing down with a bible and reading while getting nothing out of it because the entire time you feel as though you are being forced to have it. I love Christ with my whole heart, but I’d rather only do the quiet time thing when I actually feel like doing it because other wise I get nothing out of it. Besides I think that if God really wants you to have a quiet time with him, he will open it up for you. Other than that as long as you’re staying in touch with him and not forgetting to talk to him, I’m sure he doesn’t care. I think he’s just glad you want to talk to him regardless of whether or not it is a convensional quiet time.
Long live the western view! See the issue is intentionality. So much of the “pomo” agnst to structure and disciplines, suck the beauty of rituals and intentionality out of life. It is not about us. It is about an holistic intentional rhythm of life.
Have you ever read, Tired of Trying to Measure Up, by Jeff VanVonderen? It relates very much to this subject, and I’ve seen it help many people come out of and heal from performance traps. Or even a good intro to it would be his book, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse. Much of our ministry has been to those who hae been burnt by “churches” or “churchians”, and these two books hit the nail on the head, as well as helping to focus and heal. Awesome stuff.
Hi!I was in your position for years – but last summer God opened my heart and revealed to me that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ-and to be in Christ means to receive the grace of His sacrifice-we have nothing to add to it!!! That is why the Bible says in John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Thank God for His grace – there is nothing more we can do! That is why Galatians chapter 3 is in our Bibles! I am e-mailing to you an article that I came across recently. I am sure it will take you closer to freedom!And I bless you with: 2Pet. 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Relax and seek Him personally-seek to know Him in a loving relationship-this is what really matters! This is what really blesses His heart!
hey- don’t know you was searching for something and found your page. I agree that most of the written daily devotions do suck. i never stick to them -most of the time i don’t relate to them and i feel i’m wasting my time or i don’t have the time to spend on them. although i think that it is important to spend time alone with God everyday…i don’t think that you are with God when you are only reading abook that’s been written by someone else. (they might be great for some people) Nowthat i see God doesn’t speak to us all the same ways or through the same things i’ve learn to spend time with him on my own. in my car. late at night i’ll just open my bible (the message//remix) and read- it’s been krazy how i’ll open and bam it’s what i’d been needing to hear all day…that’s God talking to me. It’s my quite time. sometimes i’ll read a verse and be done…other times He’ll keep speaking to me…changing my thinking & ideas – i start putting my focus on him. not what everyone else wants. It’s gotta be something personal for me.i don’t want to just do what everyone else says.
Remind me never to send my son to your youth group. What happened to?
o Pslam 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
o Psalm 199:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path
o Hebrews 4:12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart
o Issaih 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
o Issaih 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
o Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
o 1Peter 1: :23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
o 2TIM 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
God’s word is Awesome!!!!
I was saved at the age of 19 and I believe one of the evidence of my faith in Christ is a desire to know him more. Bottom-line is reading the scriptures is not a chore but a privilege. Granted some days are easier than others to find time in the Word. But you will find time for what matters most to you I promise!
If we get down to the real issue here, it is commitment and discipline. Yes, I said it discipline. A lost word in Christian circles. Not just doing what feels right but doing what we know is pleasing to the Lord.
You find it hard to motivate your students to love God’s word??? Well do you? We can only take people as far as we are willing to go ourselves.
I don’t know you brother but I want to encourage you to not take the path of least resitance but instead challenged yourself to grow. Don’t let your past failures dictate the direction you take your ministry in, instead let God’s word do that!
Here a quote:
A desire for God that can not break the bonds of sleep is a weak thing- E.M. BOUNDS
Amen Brent! God gave us a conscience and his Word for a reason. Why dedicate your intellect to searing that conscience? Have you ever considered pleading with God to give you a hunger and thirst for His Word?
I’ll be praying for you dear brother. Don’t be content to let Satan win!
I have to agree with the last two posts. In Christ, we are freed from the bondage of sin. We are freed from the guilt of sin. However, we are not free TO sin. As such, we are not freed to live our lives any way we please. The Word of God is living water. Through it we know and understand the nature of God. I am never closer to God than when I am regularly drinking in its blessings. As Paul says in Galatians, do not use your freedom in Christ to indulge in the sinful nature.
GROW STRONG in the Lord by hearing and obeying his word! Not legalism… relationship. You are struggling with your quiet time because Satan wants to divide you from the truths of scripture. Pray that God will give you an overwhelming hunger for his word.
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