Spending Time with God Each Day
In having a regular quiet time with God, there are two primary goals. The first is to worship and praise God. In doing this you revel in who God is, observe and acknowledge the daily blessings He bestows, and express your appreciation for His greatness. As you meditate on His holiness expressions of adoration and praise cant help but follow. God delights in the praises of His children!
The second purpose of daily devotionals is spiritual growth for yourself. This growth requires us to recognize that we are sinners and that there are areas in our lives that need to be changed. You’ll need to approach God and ask for His forgiveness for these things, and then work to correct them going forward.
Begin your quiet time by taking a few deep breaths and calming yourself from the rush of the day. Mentally lay aside the tasks and routines that consume your thinking. Ask God to calm your thoughts and keep your mind focused on Him. (Its often helpful to jot down things that are on your mind before you begin your quiet time.)
Ask God to clean your heart prior to your devotions.
Offer God praise and worship. You might sing a hymn or praise chorus, or read a Psalm of adoration. Count your blessings. Recite a poem that praises the great Creator. There are many ways to praise God. Be creative. He loves your worship!
Read and study Scripture, or read from a devotional book.
As you read, ask yourself what is being said in this passage. Who was it written for? What is the main thought of the passage? (Keep in mind what was said in the preceding sections.) Is there a particular truth that stands out to you? Is there a command to obey or an example to follow? Does this passage warn or caution you about something?
How can you start to take action on what you have learned here? How will it impact you in your daily life? Writing down your thoughts is a good practice as it will help you to be more likely to retain what you are getting out of the quiet time.
Pray to God.
If you are looking for help with your prayers, try the acrostic ACTSS: A – Adoration. Praise God for what He has done in your life. C – Confession. Ask God for forgiveness for the sinful things that you have done. T – Thanksgiving. Give God thanks for all of the many things He does for you each day. S- Supplication. Ask God to be the supplier of your needs. S – Silence. Make an effort to simply listen to what God is telling you.
End your quiet time by asking God to help you remember what youve learned.
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