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Quiet Time

Quality time

understanding

internalization

experimentation

therapeutic

Spending some Quiet Time with God

What is a quiet time?
Time spent daily with God through His Word & Prayer.


Why have a Quiet Time?
-To enjoy fellowship with God and Get to know Him better

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (Philippians 3:8-10)

And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38)


-To delight God

the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. (Proverbs 15:8)

-To discover principles to direct our lives

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

-To develop perspectives on life from God's point of view

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)


Steps to develop quiet time:-

1] Make a COMMITMENT to observe a quiet time daily
No one can force you!
You have to make a willful choice


2] Develop a plan to observe your quiet time daily

A] Have A Definite Time
- Pick a suitable time
- It must become a regular part of your daily activity - CONSISTENCY
- Don't give God your leftover time
- Don't find time, make time & make it a priority
- Ideal time : early in the day ( you don't take the trip and then read the map! do you? )
Psalm 5:3 says ...

O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. (Psalm 5:3)

B] Have a definite Place
- Pick a suitable location
- Somewhere free from distractions & interruptions

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)

C] Have the Right Tools
- a readable Bible: If you can invest in one with pleanty of room to jot notes in the margins, that will be great! A simple Bible would do great too!
- optional - quiet time aids: eg Daily Bread or Everyday with Jesus etc
- a prayer journal / list: use it to record things yo're praying about.
- a notepad - to write down thoughts, points or assignments.

D] Have The Right Attitude
- REVERENCE : be always aware that you are having fellowship with a Holy God!
- An OPEN HEART & MIND : be prepared for God to minister to you!
- BE HONEST & OPEN with God: Confess & admit your faults, sins, things you should've done but didn't,...
- BE FOCUSED : Don't let your mind wander to other things (distractions)


Suggested Procedures

Get still and quiet."Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

- FOCUS your mind on Him. Calm down, relax, and recognize His Presence. Take a deep breath and focus your thoughts on the Lord.


Have a time of Thanksgiving and Praise.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:4)

-You can read a Psalm, sing song or even listen to a worship chorus as you begin to praise Him!

A Preparatory Prayer
- Ask God to search your hear ( Psalm 139:23-24) to reveal your state.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24)


- Confess your sins ( 1 John 1:9)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)

- Ask God to open your heart & mind to His Word!

Get into God's Word
- Remember: Quality is more important Quantity
- You can use a system eg. : read through the Bible / New Testament / Gospel etc
- You can use Devotional Aids eg: Daily Bread etc

Meditate
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?

Record what God has give you - Write down what God says to you and what He tells you to do. It doesn't have to be flowery. You're not writing it for publication or to impress other people.

Now you're ready to Pray! - When you pray, pour out your soul. Be natural and honest with God, when you speak to Him. Tell Him how you feel! Pray out lout! It keeps your mind on track and enables you to stay focused.

Begin to share out of your quiet time - God did not make us to be reservoirs; He made us to be conduits. Tell others what is God showing you!

Finally, obey what God tells you - Your spiritual train is running on two rails. One is REVELATION and the other is OBEDIENCE. And if ether rail stops, your train stops! Learn to obey the Word of God!.


Luke 10: 38- 42 - Spending time at the Lord's Feet!

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42)

Most people spend time too busy preparing for the Service of the King, than simply just spending time with the King. Mary Magdalene made the right choice!




This sharing was done by Ponraj Navamani at MYF on 28th September 2008.

The Unconditional Love of God - A Study on 1Corinthians Chapter 13

Love*….
Bears all things…
Believes all things…
Always Hopes,
Always Trusts, 1Corinthians 13:7
Evidence of Christ inUs 1John 4:16
*Agape- loving without lavishing whether the recipient is worthy or not, has nothing to do with the attractiveness of the beloved, no preconditions, a commitment and not a feeling (cf jeremiah 31:3)

THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST(adapted from 1st Corinthians 13:4-8)

being the exact imprint of God and example of His Divine Attribute - Love (God is Love - 1John 4:8)

Jesus is patient; (1 Corinthians 13:4a - Love is patient)
Even among His own disciples, how forbearingly He endured their blindness, their misconceptions and hardness of heart!
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return 1 Peter 2:23

Jesus is kind;(1 Corinthians 13:4b - Love is kind)
A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.' Matthew 8:2-3

Jesus does not envy; (1 Corinthians 13:4c - Love does not envy)
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Phillipians 2:6-7

Jesus does not boast;(1 Corinthians 13:4d - Love does not boast)
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."Mark 10:45

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:12-16)

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

Jesus is not arrogant;(1 Corinthians 13:4d - Love is not arrogant)
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." (Luke 19:5-7)

Jesus is not rude;(1 Corinthians 13:5a - Love is not rude)
On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.(Luke 9:10-11)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus does not insist on His own way;(1 Corinthians 13:5b - Love does not insist on its own way)

"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." Luke 22:42

Jesus is not irritable;(1 Corinthians 13:5c - Love is not irritable)
Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." And the disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?" And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.(Matthew 15:32-37)

Jesus is not resentful; (1 Corinthians 13:5d - Love is not resentful )
But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. (Mat 15:25-28)

Jesus does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but He rejoices with the Truth.(1 Corinthians 13:6 - Love is not happy with Evil, but Rejoices in the Truth)
And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.(John 8:7-11)

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth 1Peter 2:22
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Jesus bears all things;(1 Corinthians 13:7a - Love Bears All things)
And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34

Jesus believes all things,(1 Corinthians 13:7b - Love Believes All things )
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:31-32)

Jesus hopes all things,(1 Corinthians 13:7c - Love Hopes All things )
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.John 17:11

Jesus endures all things.(1 Corinthians 13:7d -Love Endures All things )
The ultimate endurance of Love?

Have this mind among yourselves,
which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though He was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
....even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8)

............And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20c

Jesus never fails.(1 Corinthians 13:8 - Love never Fails)
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Mat 28:20b
..having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1

... because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." I heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: "Now God's home is with people! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. (Revelation 7:17,21:3)


The self sacrificial Love of Christ
I am able,
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the man who was paralyzed--"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home. " (Luke 5:24)

I am willing,
And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:2-3)

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:38-40)

It is done.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
(Leviticus 17:11)

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1John 4:16,18;)



God's Agape love can be summed up in the verse of jeremiah 31:3 below, the first line speak of God's unending unchanging love towards the beloved, the second line speak of God's commitment in that Love - Agape

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
(Jeremiah 31:3)

[ + ] click here for extended study notes on this Chapter TBC

The more we conform ourselves to the image of Jesus Christ through the obedience that comes by Faith, living & growing day by day with the Guidance of His Holy Spirit, then we can surely say :-

The fruit of the Spirit is… checkbox

love,

joy,

peace,

patience,

kindness,

goodness,

faithfulness,

gentleness,

self-control;

…against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

of prayer & confusion..

guyysss, i am sooo confused. i cant add my prayer items to the prayer diary thing..!

Ruth's prayer items:-
-Good raya food & great holiday for all!
-good turnout for the youth service on the 5th of October 08
-safety and protection for the country
-for boredom to cease from existence
-protection of youths abroad ;)

cheers..=)
Ruth

p.s Please explain how to use this thing, i've spent 20 mins clicking buttons and not getting anywhere...except for this post, which is really good! haha..