We live in a world defined by chaos, confusion, and hard circumstances, and I believe one of the most important things we can do for ourselves, our families, and our communities is to grow in a deeper relationship with God. 

The spiritual habit of a daily “Quiet Time” was first established in my life as a young girl watching my mother spend time each morning with the Lord. I wasn’t sure exactly what she did during that time, but I did recognize the sense of comfort I had in knowing she gave the first part of her day to the Lord. I watched as she steadily grew in godliness, contentment, wisdom, and trust in God. I felt solace and security as I witnessed my sweet mama cover me, my Dad, and my two brothers in consistent prayer. 

Life might have been confusing and uncertain at times, but knowing my mom was praying for us gave me peace. What my mother’s daily “Quiet Time” taught me is that the spiritual discipline of setting time aside specifically to spend with the Lord is vital in the life of a faithful believer.

What my mother’s daily “Quiet Time” taught me is that the spiritual discipline of setting time aside specifically to spend with the Lord is vital in the life of a faithful believer.

Jana M. Fraley

A daily quiet time is a big part of how we grow in our relationship with the Lord, increasing our understanding of Who He is, what He desires for our lives, and what our identity is in Him. 

“Quiet Time” is the spiritual discipline of carving out time from our busy days and hectic schedules to come before the Lord in a space that is quiet and free of distractions and interruptions.  Distraction and busyness are tools the enemy uses in our lives to keep us from the abundant life He desires us to have, and having this time alone with God keeps our focus on Him and not on the troubles and challenges surrounding us. 

While some people call it “Quiet Time,” it’s also referred to as “Devotion Time,”  “Connection Time,” or simply “My Time with the Lord”. I recently heard one Christian Podcaster refer to it as “Priority Time,” which I really like because a priority is precisely what it should be!

As I’ve thought about my time with God, I keep coming back to the idea of “Firstfruits.” Firstfruit is a biblical term that describes what the Israelites gave back to God from their harvests, dedicating to Him the first and the best of what He’d already given to them in anticipation of a greater harvest to come. The Hebrew word for firstfruit is “bikkurim,” which translates to “promise to come.” 

This is exactly what I picture my quiet time to be: the first and best part of my day, dedicated to the Lord, given in anticipation of His promise of an even greater harvest to come.

My quiet time is the first and best part of my day, dedicated to the Lord, given in anticipation of His promise of an even greater harvest to come.

Jana M. Fraley

I want to share the 6 keys I’ve found to be beneficial in having a fruitful quiet time: 

1. Start small and then grow big!

It can be overwhelming trying to start this routine. Choosing the right time, picking a Bible out of the hundreds of options, figuring out where to begin reading, finding devotions to read, and keeping distractions at bay can make having a quiet time challenging. Unfortunately, we attach too many expectations to what we think that time should look like, which leads to discouragement, gets us stuck, and keeps us from starting the discipline. My advice is just to start! Don’t overthink it or make it too complicated. Figure out where you can carve out quiet & distraction-free time in your day, and even if that is only 10 minutes, start there. As you get in the habit of faithfully giving that time to God, I think you will be amazed at how He will create more margin in your day to stretch it out and enable you to include deeper study, reflective journaling, and longer prayers. But to begin with, just start small.

2. Find a bible reading plan.

The bible is a vast book with multiple translations, two parts, 66 books, and several authors who wrote it over approximately 1,500 years. Reading the entire bible can be daunting! In addition, it can be tricky to figure out how to start and navigate God’s Word. Whether you decide to read it from front cover to back cover, in chronological order, or by bouncing around from one book to another, a reading plan will help give you direction. 

3. Choose a cozy space (but not too cozy).

A consistent quiet time is helped by having a consistent and comfortable place in your home to meet God daily. A favorite chair with a cozy blanket and a soft light will invite you to sit and abide with the Lord. A specific place where it’s easy to access your bible, a notebook, pen, and any other books you are using for your time with God. Just make sure your spot isn’t so comfortable and cozy that you are tempted to fall asleep!

4. Invite others to join you in this spiritual discipline:

As I said before, sometimes digging into the bible, consistently praying, and reflecting on the more profound things about God and a life lived for Him can be intimidating and overwhelming. Having a spouse, friend, another family member, co-worker, or mentor come alongside you for accountability, mutual encouragement, and insight will help as you grow in this discipline. Proverbs 21:17 tells us that “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Likewise, our faith and biblical worldview will be sharpened if we have someone to discuss and process our quiet-time discoveries and questions with!

5. Take your quiet time into the rest of your day.

Unfortunately, as rich as this time can be, there is a natural tendency to forget what the Holy Spirit reveals to us as we get busy with the noise and responsibility of our lives. Take time during your day to reflect on what you read, studied, and learned about God and His character. Recite a memory verse while doing dishes, folding laundry, or running errands. Tell your spouse, a friend, or co-worker about what God showed you that day, or write a note to someone that could use the encouragement you received in your time with God. Before going to sleep at night, reflect on what you read in the Bible earlier. Most importantly, take what God has shown you in the quiet and then walk it out actively and practically as you go about your day.

6. Remember your why.

The reality is that there will be times when your time with God will feel forced and mechanical if you aren’t careful. If we look at this time with Him as a duty and not a delight, we will soon find it becomes a drudgery. That’s when you will be tempted to choose something else over time with God. But when you remember the reason you seek time with the Lord is because of your desire to grow in your faith and love of Christ, then as my friend Rachael Adams has said, “Watch God turn your discipline into desire and your desire into delight.” (follow Rachael on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rachaeladamsauthor/)

I want to challenge you to think about starting the discipline of having a Quiet Time in your life. I’d love to come alongside you to encourage, support, and help with any guidance, questions, or frustrations you might have. I have seen and experienced for myself how giving God the First Fruit of my day has filled me with the hope and confidence of a better harvest to come.

For a free download that includes these 6 keys to having a fruitful quiet time, along with a list of my favorite resources, examples of quiet time schedules, and a Quiet Time Prayer, click the link below: