The specific time has to do with when you should have your quiet time and how long it should be. The general rule is this: The best time is when you are at your best. Give God the best part of your day - when you are the freshest and most alert. Don't try to serve God with your leftovers (leftover time). Remember too that your best time may be different from someone else's.
(Mark 1:35).
- Abraham - Gen 19:27
- Job - Job 1:5
- Jacob - Gen 28:18
- Moses - Exo 34:4
- Hannah & Elkanah - 1 Sam 1:19
- David - Psa 5:3; 57:7-8
(see also Psa 90:14; 119:147; 143:8; Isa 26:9; Exek 12:8)
Throughout church history many Christians who were used most by God met with Him early in the morning. Hudson Taylor said, "you don't tune up the instruments after the concert is over. That's stupid. It's logical to tune them up before you start".
The great revival among British college students in the late 19th century began with those historic words: "remember the morning watch!" So we need to tune ourselves up at the start of each day as we remember the morning watch.
If Jesus is really in first place in our lives, we ought to give Him the first part of our day. We are to seek His kingdom first (see Matt 6:33). Doctors tell us that the most important mela of the day is breakfast. It often determines our energy levels, alertness, and even moods for the day. Likewise, we need a "spiritual breakfast" to start our day off right.
Finally in the morning our minds are uncluttered from the day's activities. Our thoughts are fresh, we're rested, tensions have not yet come on us, and it's usually the quietest time. One mother sets her alarm clock for 4 A.M., has her quiet time, goes back to ed and then rises when everone else in the household gets up. Her explanation is that with the kids around the house all day, early morning is the only time when it is quiet and she can be alone with God. It works for her, you need to select a time that works for you.
You might even consider have two quiet times (morning and night). Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, used to have code letters for his night quiet time - H.W.L.W. Whenever he was with a group of people at night or home with his wife and the conversation seemed to be ending, he would say, "all right, H.W.L.W.," after which a passage of Scripture would be quoted without comment and all would go to sleep. H.W.L.W stood for "His Word the Last Word," and he practised that through the years as a way of ending a day with one's thoughts fixed on the Lord.
Stephen Olford, a great Christian and minister in New York for many years, said, "I want to hear the voice of God before I hear anyone else's in the morning, and His is the last voice I want to hear at night".
David and Daniel even met with the Lord three times each day (see Psa 55:17; Dan 6:10)
Whatever time you set, be consistent in it. Schedule it on your calendar; make an appointment with God as you would with anyone else. Make a date with Jesus! Then look forward to it and don't stand Him up. A stood-up date is not a pleasant experience for us, and Jesus does not like to be stood up either. So make a date with Him and keep it at all costs.
The question is often asked, "how much time should I spend with the Lord in the morning?" This is a matter that should be decided between you and the Lord. If you've never had a consistent quiet time before, you may want to start with seven minutes, and let it grow naturally. You should aim eventually not to spend less than 15 minutes a day with the Lord. Out of 168 hours we all have during a given week, 1 hour and 45 minutes seems terribly small when you consider that you were created to have fellowship with God. Here are some additional guidelines:
- Don't try for a two hour quiet time at first. You'll only get discouraged. You must grow in this relationship as you do in any other. So begin with a consistent seven minutes or so and let it grows; it's better to be consistent with a short time than to meet for an hour every other week.
- Don't watch the clock. Clock-watching can ruin your quiet time faster than almost anything else. Decide what you can do in the Word and prayer during the time you have selected; then do it. Sometimes it will take longer than you have set aside, and sometimes less time. But don't keep looking at your watch.
- Emphasize quality, not quantity. There is nothing super-spiritual about having a two-hour quiet time. It's what you do during your time - 15 minutes or anything in between - that's important. Aim for a quality relationship with the Lord.
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May this speaks to you.. stay tune for part 3 & 4.
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