This is a term that I believe most parents and
youngsters are quite familiar with. Remember?
When a child would get out of hand, or just get
into the way, then Mom or Dad would prescribe
"quiet time".
Why? What purpose did "quiet time" serve?
First of all it GAVE THE PARENT(S) "quiet time"
to be free of noise, boisterousness, misbehaviour,
and just having a break from constant parenting.
Secondly, it gave the youngster (you?) time to
"think" about what he/she did to be put out of
circulation for a while.
Thirdly, it gave the child time to plan the next
"move" of either obedience or disobedience!
Fourthly, "quiet time" ideally had the purpose
of having the offender resolve NOT TO ENGAGE
in "the offense" again - at least not any time soon.
There may well be other "redeeming values" to
"quiet time", but these will suffice for today's
purpose(s).
HOW NOISE-FREE AND COMMOTION-FREE
is your life? Too much to do? Always cleaning,
shopping, catching up on the phone, working,
playing chauffeur, being referee, packing lunches,
preparing meals, attending meetings and church,
business conventions, sales conferences, etc.?
YOU NEED A "QUIET TIME"!!
It's not for just the "disobedient" anymore. Ha-Ha.
Quiet time is GOOD FOR THE SOUL!
Quiet time is GOOD FOR THE MIND!
Quiet time is GOOD FOR THE BODY!
Quiet time benefits your employer, spouse, friends,
and the whole family unit you're a part of!
I'm not necessarily endorsing Yoga, or TM, or
practices like them, as I'm sure they have some
benefit for the participants.
What I am suggesting is that WE TOO OFTEN
GET TOO BUSY THAT WE NEGLECT OUR
"QUIET TIME" WITH OUR LORD!!
That doesn't mean that you must "pray", or
"read your Bible", or cite Scripture, or even
hum or whistle or sing hymns or choruses.
The Bible says "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT
I AM GOD"!
When you were "dating", or now if you're "dating",
weren't some of the best times when you just
SAT STILL AND ENJOYED EACH OTHER'S
PRESENCE?! No words were needed, right?
SO IT IS WITH GOD!
He said that He would "keep him in PERFECT PEACE,
whose mind is STAYED (fixed/set) on Him"!!
Too busy? Too committed? Too many memberships?
Too many obligations, whether real or imposed upon
yourself? Busy simply for the purpose of being busy?
TAKE "QUIET TIME", my friend, as often as you
can, whether you feel the need for it or not, but
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU FEEL LIFE AND
THE WORLD CLOSING IN ON YOU!!
It's good to sing positive/constructive tunes.
It's good to meditate on Bible verses.
It's good to think about God's goodness.
It's good to "count your blessings".
It's good to "soak" in the Holy Spirit.
It's good to relax by repeating the name "Jesus"!
It's good to recount His many names and
their meanings/ministries to your soul.
BASK IN HIS HOLY PRESENCE!
IMAGINE YOURSELF BEFORE HIS THRONE!!
BUT SOMETIMES IT'S VERY GOOD TO
JUST "BE STILL", AND HAVE "QUIET TIME"!
It'll "recharge your battery", whether for being
a good parent, a good employee or employer,
for serving your community or church, for
teaching, preaching, or witnessing for your Saviour!
ETC., ETC., ETC.
QUIET TIME has recuperative, restoring qualities,
for every part of your being!
"Go to your corner", Friend, and shut the world
out behind you. Think about the events in your
life for the last 24 hours. Think how God has
been there for you. Think about how you maybe
"missed Him" by not allowing yourself to be
conscious of His nearness. TAKE HIM INTO
YOUR PRIVATE "CORNER" WITH YOU!!
youngsters are quite familiar with. Remember?
When a child would get out of hand, or just get
into the way, then Mom or Dad would prescribe
"quiet time".
Why? What purpose did "quiet time" serve?
First of all it GAVE THE PARENT(S) "quiet time"
to be free of noise, boisterousness, misbehaviour,
and just having a break from constant parenting.
Secondly, it gave the youngster (you?) time to
"think" about what he/she did to be put out of
circulation for a while.
Thirdly, it gave the child time to plan the next
"move" of either obedience or disobedience!
Fourthly, "quiet time" ideally had the purpose
of having the offender resolve NOT TO ENGAGE
in "the offense" again - at least not any time soon.
There may well be other "redeeming values" to
"quiet time", but these will suffice for today's
purpose(s).
HOW NOISE-FREE AND COMMOTION-FREE
is your life? Too much to do? Always cleaning,
shopping, catching up on the phone, working,
playing chauffeur, being referee, packing lunches,
preparing meals, attending meetings and church,
business conventions, sales conferences, etc.?
YOU NEED A "QUIET TIME"!!
It's not for just the "disobedient" anymore. Ha-Ha.
Quiet time is GOOD FOR THE SOUL!
Quiet time is GOOD FOR THE MIND!
Quiet time is GOOD FOR THE BODY!
Quiet time benefits your employer, spouse, friends,
and the whole family unit you're a part of!
I'm not necessarily endorsing Yoga, or TM, or
practices like them, as I'm sure they have some
benefit for the participants.
What I am suggesting is that WE TOO OFTEN
GET TOO BUSY THAT WE NEGLECT OUR
"QUIET TIME" WITH OUR LORD!!
That doesn't mean that you must "pray", or
"read your Bible", or cite Scripture, or even
hum or whistle or sing hymns or choruses.
The Bible says "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT
I AM GOD"!
When you were "dating", or now if you're "dating",
weren't some of the best times when you just
SAT STILL AND ENJOYED EACH OTHER'S
PRESENCE?! No words were needed, right?
SO IT IS WITH GOD!
He said that He would "keep him in PERFECT PEACE,
whose mind is STAYED (fixed/set) on Him"!!
Too busy? Too committed? Too many memberships?
Too many obligations, whether real or imposed upon
yourself? Busy simply for the purpose of being busy?
TAKE "QUIET TIME", my friend, as often as you
can, whether you feel the need for it or not, but
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU FEEL LIFE AND
THE WORLD CLOSING IN ON YOU!!
It's good to sing positive/constructive tunes.
It's good to meditate on Bible verses.
It's good to think about God's goodness.
It's good to "count your blessings".
It's good to "soak" in the Holy Spirit.
It's good to relax by repeating the name "Jesus"!
It's good to recount His many names and
their meanings/ministries to your soul.
BASK IN HIS HOLY PRESENCE!
IMAGINE YOURSELF BEFORE HIS THRONE!!
BUT SOMETIMES IT'S VERY GOOD TO
JUST "BE STILL", AND HAVE "QUIET TIME"!
It'll "recharge your battery", whether for being
a good parent, a good employee or employer,
for serving your community or church, for
teaching, preaching, or witnessing for your Saviour!
ETC., ETC., ETC.
QUIET TIME has recuperative, restoring qualities,
for every part of your being!
"Go to your corner", Friend, and shut the world
out behind you. Think about the events in your
life for the last 24 hours. Think how God has
been there for you. Think about how you maybe
"missed Him" by not allowing yourself to be
conscious of His nearness. TAKE HIM INTO
YOUR PRIVATE "CORNER" WITH YOU!!
I love this reminder....sometimes it is scary to sit quietly and just be alone with our Lord. It is so easy (for me anyway) to fill my mind with worries and doubts, with requests of God, instead of listening to what He has to say to me! I think about the passage in 1 Kings when the Lord was not in the earthquake or the fire, but in the "still small voice" and I think...how many times have I not heard Him because I wasn't listening? Thank you Bill, for this reminder!
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