The best way to increase the joy and freshness of your walk with God is by

developing a habit of daily time with God.

A. The primary purpose for a quiet time is to fellowship with our Father.

1. To fellowship with God means:

a. To concentrate on who God is as revealed in His Word; and

b. To allow God to conform us to the image of Christ.

In our quiet time, it is important for us to concentrate on who God is rather

than on what we're not. (it's also more encouraging!) And as we focus our

attention on God, we will be conformed to the image of His Son. So it is

crucial that we have an accurate view of God. This view can be obtained

only through His Word.

B. A secondary purpose for time with God is to gain principles and

perspectives for living.

1. We discover principles to direct our lives through His Word.

As finite beings, we cannot know all the factors involved in any decision. But

God knows them all and will guide us through His Word (Psalm 119:105).

2. Time with God helps us see life from God's point of view.

Reality is seeing life from God's perspective. Anything other than His

perspective is a distortion of reality.

Consider Eve in the Garden of Eden. God's perspective was that it would be

best for Adam and Eve to be obedient by not eating the forbidden fruit.

Satan succeeded in giving Eve a false view of God (that He is overly strict

and He doesn't want them to become like Him). Satan made Eve doubt what

God had said. Eve adopted a false view of reality, which led to ruin.

C. These practical suggestions will help you have a rich and rewarding

time with God.

1. Set aside a regular time each to spend with God.

For many people, morning is best. The most important factor, though, is your

alertness. Give God your best time, not your sleepy time.

2. Find a place where you can be alone, free from distractions (Mark 1:35;

Psalm 119:18).

3. Have a notebook to record prayer requests and things God is teaching vou

from the Word.

4. Use variety in your quiet time.

a. Occasionally have your quiet time in a special place.

b. Take a morning to memorize several verses and think about their

implications for your life.

c. Listen to Christian music at the beginning of your time to help you think

about the Lord.

5. Begin with praise and adoration.

a. Praise and adore God through song (Psalm 28:7; 100:4).

b. Praise and adore God through praying His Word back to Him (Psalm

103).

Read passages of Scripture (Psalms, Old Testament prophets, the epistles,

etc.) and pray them back to God, adapting them as worship, praise or

requests.

Listening to God is as important as speaking to God. Allow an unhurried

time before God to listen with your heart and mind.

6. Ask God to search your heart (Psalm 139:23,24).

a. Confess any sins the Holy Spirit reveals (Psalm 66:18; 1 John 1:9).

As we experience the forgiveness of our sins, we are truly free to

fellowship with God. Just think of the freedom that we experience through

knowing God! The vast majority of people in the world are burdened with

guilt over past mistakes and sins crushing down on them. When a person

experiences God's love and forgiveness, that burden of guilt is lifted, and

he's free and able to listen to the Lord.

b. Make certain that you are walking in the Spirit (Ephesians 5:15,18,20).

7. Spend time in the word.

a. Have a plan for your daily reading.

A plan makes your study systematic and keeps you from spending all of your

time on a few favorite sections of the Bible. Discover some of the exciting

things God has waiting for you elsewhere in His Word.

b. Read a paragraph or chapter slowly and thoughtfully.

c. Ask yourself questions about how the passage applies to your life.

d. Try reading a passage aloud.

(Scripture was written to be heard, not read, by its original audience.)

e. Personalize it by substituting your name in appropriate places and

addressing the passage to God.

f. Underline parts of speech.

Notice all the verbs in the passage. Note how the different parts of a

sentence work to convey meaning. This can help you concentrate on

what you are reading.

NOTE: Remember that these ideas are simply suggestions to make

your time in the Word more meaningful; they are not iron clad rules that

you must follow.

8. Talk to God openly and honestly about what you just read.

D. To get you started ...

1. I have set aside -------as my regular time to meet with God.

2. I have picked ---------as my regular place to spend time alone with my

heavenly Father.

3. 1 will begin my study of the Word by studying--------