Quiet Times
So, thanks for everyone's comments about quiet time. That was an interesting thread and I appreciate the different thoughts about the problem. It's nice to know I am not crazy.
What I found has been working is to get up at 6 (which is not an extra-pious time of day - it just happens to be the time I need to get up in order to get to school on time). Then I read a short devotional from this book:
Every Day with Jesus: The Spirit-Filled Life, by Selwyn Hughes
Followed by a devotional from:
By Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional, by Martin Luther
(obviously Luther didn't write the devotional, but the devotionals are excerpts from his writing, with no extraneous commentary)
Then, I try to read 4 chapters from the Bible, following the Murray M'Cheyne reading plan. You can read about that plan here:
http://www.edginet.org/mcheyne/info.html
There's nothing special about this plan - it just happens to be one suggested by a professor, and so far I like it.
Of course, all of the above is subject to change according to what the morning throws at me. And, technically speaking, if I was trying to be anal about it, I am already "behind". But, the main thing I took from our discussion is that this quiet time is something intended for my benefit in developing a closer relationship with God and not a duty that I owe God. Anyway, less guilt and obsession about the whole venture has been immensely helpful and I can honestly say that I am enjoying this quiet time more than ever before, and I no longer beat myself up if I have to skip a day for some reason.
What I found has been working is to get up at 6 (which is not an extra-pious time of day - it just happens to be the time I need to get up in order to get to school on time). Then I read a short devotional from this book:
Every Day with Jesus: The Spirit-Filled Life, by Selwyn Hughes
Followed by a devotional from:
By Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional, by Martin Luther
(obviously Luther didn't write the devotional, but the devotionals are excerpts from his writing, with no extraneous commentary)
Then, I try to read 4 chapters from the Bible, following the Murray M'Cheyne reading plan. You can read about that plan here:
http://www.edginet.org/mcheyne/info.html
There's nothing special about this plan - it just happens to be one suggested by a professor, and so far I like it.
Of course, all of the above is subject to change according to what the morning throws at me. And, technically speaking, if I was trying to be anal about it, I am already "behind". But, the main thing I took from our discussion is that this quiet time is something intended for my benefit in developing a closer relationship with God and not a duty that I owe God. Anyway, less guilt and obsession about the whole venture has been immensely helpful and I can honestly say that I am enjoying this quiet time more than ever before, and I no longer beat myself up if I have to skip a day for some reason.
posted by Jonathan Ziman at
1:17 PM
5 Comments:
I'm going to go ahead and comment on my own blog. No doubt this breaks all sorts of blogging rules but whatever.
There is an interesting and, I think, kind of related post by a professor here:
http://missionaryimpossible.blogspot.com/2006/03/dozing-in-prayer-meetngs.html
He starts by saying:
But if prayer is biblical, urgent and important, why does my mind wander during my personal prayer time and why do I become sleepy in missionary prayer meetings? As a new missionary serving in Nigeria the most difficult part of the day was not Hausa language study but staying awake in afternoon prayers. The heat was unbearable and I was still waking up from a much needed nap. We prayed for people I didn’t know who lived in places I couldn’t pronounce. But I knew I would get in trouble with the District Superintendent if I missed afternoon prayers.
If prayer is a ladder between two worlds, a breath of heavenly air, and a telephone to the King, why do I doze in prayer meetings?
Read his article for the rest.
By
Jonathan Ziman, at 4:01 PM
I am leaving on Friday for a Lenten Desert Retreat - a ten hour bus ride with 19 others from Tangier, Rabat, Fes and Ain Leuh to the edge of the Sahara.
I am eager to do this and have been working today on a devotional guide for people to follow - if they want or need that help.
I preached about this Sunday but have kept thinking about it. I think the problem is that we are busier than we are supposed to be. It is not our fault, simply the consequence of improved technology. When Paul and Jesus walked from place to place, they had a lot of time to think, reflect, consider. We are never out of reach by phone and rush at high speeds from place to place.
When Jesus was overwhelmed by the crowds demanding a miracle from him, he got up early and went to a quiet place to be alone.
Because of technology, we are very often in the place of Jesus. People do not demand miracles from us, but they are everpresent with needs and demands. So we have to be intentional about getting away.
I am not anti-technology, but I do not want it to master me. And I do not want those under the mastery of technology to master me either. So I need to step aside and resist the pull of culture to fill my life with more and more meaningful ministry and activity. Just because I can does not mean I must.
The sermon is at www.rpfchurch.org if you are interested.
By
Anonymous, at 11:54 AM
Hi Jack, I read your sermon from September about Preparing for Crisis. Great sermon. Exactly what I needed to hear right now. However, I couldn't find the sermon you mentioned above. The most recent sermon on the web-site is from February. Or were you referring to the same sermon?
Thanks for your comments by the way. I think that technology certainly intrudes in many ways on our life. In fact, I have another blog entry about that topic coming up soon.
By
Jonathan Ziman, at 2:43 PM
"subject to change"...I think that is a profound approach to spending time with God. He doesn't change, but we do..daily circumstance/mood changes and then also, hopefully, spiritual growth and change, and going through various seasons of life.
The content and structure of my times with God have changed a lot over time. I think that is one of the keys if/when you find your current routine growing stale. We are creative creatures of routine...
By
Anonymous, at 12:17 PM
we had some problems with the website but the more recent sermons are up now.
more with your latest blog on preaching ...
By
Anonymous, at 1:32 PM
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