How to Have a Spiritual Life Like a Saint
Call it what you want, but a “quiet time” (a.k.a. QT, devotions, devotionals, devos, God time, date with Jesus [editor's note: *shudder*], etc.) has been a staple of the evangelical diet for decades. And for good reason.
The primary purpose of this time is to get with God and let him speak to you–through his Word, through prayer, through other literature, through music, etc. Although this practice can quickly lead into a “checklist” activity (i.e. “I must have my quiet time with God or he won’t love me anymore!” We snicker, but I knew kids in college who truly believed this. And it showed. Striving much?), it is profoundly helpful in hearing God’s voice in your life.
So how do we do it? What does a quiet time even look like? If you’ve been wondering how, or if you want to start, here’s a quick and easy guide to get your devotional wheels turning:
- Find a consistent time. I find mornings work best, but maybe you’re a night owl. Pick a time and own it.
- Find a consistent place. After time, you’ll develop a “holy place” that you’ll look forward to going to day after day.
- Have a reading plan. The “flip and stick” method of Bible reading rarely works long-term. Plan to read a chapter a day. Or read through the Gospels three times. Wade through Genesis on your own pace or find a reading plan to take you through the Bible in a year. Find something that works for you.
- Use a devotional book as needed. One such book I use on a consistent basis is A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants. It is small, but it will launch your life with God into the stratosphere.
- Most of all, listen. Spend intentional, set-apart time to listen for God’s voice. After all, that’s the whole point of spending time with him: to hear his voice.
As you do this, you’ll begin to discern what his voice sounds like for you. Life’s problems won’t magically go away, but you will find yourself deeply rooted and grounded in his reality, not your own. If it’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that God’s reality is way better than my own.
Do these things and you’re well on your way to having the spiritual life of a saint!
Do you have any James 5:16 guys in your life?
justin, the only thing i would add is that “listening for” God includes active waiting on the possibility that God might speak. sometimes we get too comfortable with the idea that because we have the Bible that God is just a text message away. sometimes all the bible passages in the book don't add up to a word from the Spirit. if we are listening and waiting well then there are times that our waiting is disappointed. and that's where the importance of discipline comes in: having a practice of waiting that is not dependent on an outcome. the practice is just as spiritually informative as the “word” itself.
Good stuff.
I like to use the Message Solo by Eugene Peterson. It leads you through the ancient practice of Lectio Devina.
Also, I love the book Practice of the Presence by Brother lawrence.
In this book he talks about how he served the monks of his community and often spent his quiet time washing dishes. This to him was a time of worship.
Megs – but I think he counts for extra
Amen. Included in “listening” is the practice of, well, not hearing anything.
One of my favorite worship artists, Jason Upton, puts it this way: “Your [God's] decisions are mostly hidden … In the silence, you are speaking.”
Love your thoughts … on everything.
justin, the only thing i would add is that “listening for” God includes active waiting on the possibility that God might speak. sometimes we get too comfortable with the idea that because we have the Bible that God is just a text message away. sometimes all the bible passages in the book don't add up to a word from the Spirit. if we are listening and waiting well then there are times that our waiting is disappointed. and that's where the importance of discipline comes in: having a practice of waiting that is not dependent on an outcome. the practice is just as spiritually informative as the “word” itself.
Good stuff.
I like to use the Message Solo by Eugene Peterson. It leads you through the ancient practice of Lectio Devina.
Also, I love the book Practice of the Presence by Brother lawrence.
In this book he talks about how he served the monks of his community and often spent his quiet time washing dishes. This to him was a time of worship.
Megs – but I think he counts for extra
Amen. Included in “listening” is the practice of, well, not hearing anything.
One of my favorite worship artists, Jason Upton, puts it this way: “Your [God's] decisions are mostly hidden … In the silence, you are speaking.”
Love your thoughts … on everything.