If in order to have a relationship with my friend Kyle we had to go off to a quiet place and just sort of sit there and have a real deep, emotional conversation every day, it wouldn't be a very fun relationship.
Jonathan
· 1 year ago
Patrick is right it wouldn't be fun. But if the opposite were true it wouldn't be very deep. I don't like the words 'quiet time' either. I much prefer Breakfast. But whatever the vocabulary I do know this. Christ is with me all day, everyday, whether I want Him there or not, but He is also asking me to step aside into that secret place. Don't forget to do secret things for God. Mat. 6:6
aaron
· 1 year ago
Patrick-totally agree Jonathan-totally agree
a cliche is a word that or phrase that looses its meaning. Quiet time has been used so freely it has lost some meaning.
Robin Meadows
· 1 year ago
Well, since it's never been very quiet at our house, I guess you could say I never have a "quiet time". My favorite talking to Jesus time happens when I'm in the car alone, or on a motorcycle ride. It still usually happens in the continual chaos of life!
aaron
· 1 year ago
i had a motorcycle. some of the best time with God was when i was riding. that seemed to be one of the only times no one could reach me...no radio, no phone, no email...just me, the wind, and God! Great time with my king!
Cindy Beall
· 1 year ago
Guilty. Ex-Baptist. Not a big fan of that phrase but I've used it a bazillion times. Another thing that goes with that is when people think that it SHOULD be done the first thing in the morning. Well, I've got an early riser and when he hears me, he's up. So, my "quiet time" wouldn't be very quiet. I just try to spend some time in the Word whenever it is actually quiet at my house! That's rare :)
chris rogers
· 1 year ago
"Quiet time" brings me back to my southern baptist upbringing. I can't stand that phrase.
aaron
· 1 year ago
Cindy and Chris. baptist roots huh? we're on the same page!
aaron
· 1 year ago
I rebel when I hear this phrase. I have "quiet times" with God all through out the day. Seeing a little boy with CP smile when I sit him on my lap and swing with him or hearing my daughter make up songs and sing with all her heart. I understand the importance of reading God's word and praying, but it most definitely does not stop there.
aaron
· 1 year ago
aaron thanks for the post. i agree. One of the best "quiet times" i've ever had was sitting in a park on a warm day, feeling the breeze and watching my little girls play on the swings. I was alive in that moment. God was alive in that moment
Anna Meadows
· 1 year ago
Agree... the phrase has lost it's true meaning and effect. However, it is vital for me to take time out of my day to pour over the scriptures, and pray... but it's never a set time, or on a schedule, it's more out of desire... hunger... like I can't help but remove activities so I have the time to spend with HIM... but that doesn't mean that I don't constantly talk with Him during my day and feel His presence in everything!
I'm loving this series!
Hope
· 1 year ago
This might sound a little strange but my quietest times with God are the noisiest times that occur. It's when I seem to be getting trapped in "life" or disappearing in the "noise" that I just visit that space in my head where only He has access. I zone into Him and get still in my mind - everything else just seems to follow suit. To be frank, when I "try" and be still and quiet, I get most distracted - strange perhaps - but that's what makes me unique I suppose. :)
bradruggles
· 1 year ago
I don't have as big of a problem with this one as I do some of the others. While I agree that it can easily become a cliche in Christian culture the concept behind it is something that we should all try to work on.
And I don't think that our times with God always need to be "quiet." Some of the best time I've spent with God was with music blaring and me singing at the top of my lungs in my car. :-)
Anne, Hope, and Bradruggles. Thanks for your posts today! Enjoy spending your entire day with Jesus Christ!
Veronica
· 1 year ago
I have never been asked that question. However, I do have quiet time on my way to work every morning and my way back home. To me, it's time just to speak to God outloud. Hi, came across your blog through Cindy's.
Broun Stacy
· 1 year ago
Shouldn't our times with Christ be the most violent, ruinous, occasions where our preconceptions fall like scales and daily we get to try to get our minds around these unfathomable claims of Christ. I can understand why the Puritans called it "quiet" in order to do things in private/secret but i mean c'mon 5 minutes with Max Lucado (no offense) is not what the triune God would call "Quality Time" (another cute acronym for Q.T i have seen)
robin
· 1 year ago
The phrase doesn't offend me. I spend much of the quiet times in my day with God. It could be a little quick prayer in between student's questions or the few min I have alone in my room before school starts or the five seconds after I have found Reese coloring on the walls to ask God to help me not kill her...or pray that he develops her strong little personality in spite of me!
Regardless of what you call it or when you do it, it is essential to deepening your relationship. And I think when people ask, their question is probably something deeper they have a desire to know.
Just my two cents.
Beartracks
· 1 year ago
Here is a little story of two artists eho were asked to paint peace (quiet). One atrist found a glassy still lake and painted that as his quiet time. The other saw an eagles nest at the bottom of a waterfall and painted that ax hhis quiet time. When asked ato explain he simply said peace in the middle of tribulation. That's how I define my QT finding peace int eh middle of strife. Driving down the road during rush hour and finding God . Working on a project at home and talking to God while I work, these are great moments of QT with God.
Beartracks
· 1 year ago
Sorry for the mispelled words, I am typing this in the dark as we are traveling down the road.
aaron
· 1 year ago
love the pictures you paint...and man you are tech savvy, driving down the road! thanks beartracks!
Beartracks
· 1 year ago
I have a moble air card and my wife was driving.
Kevin
· 1 year ago
I onece heard a pastor say that discipline comes before godliness. Do you think it is more effective to be disciplined or spontaneous in our time with God? It is important to be disciplined to make spending time with God a habit in our life but it is also something that should come naturally over time. How do you feel about it?
aaron
· 1 year ago
In my life I’ve experienced seasons of both. The times I’m most alive is when I’m living in the balance of disciple while being spontaneous.
Joseph
· 1 year ago
Aaron,
I hear what you're saying, however, I don't think the concept of quiet time is quite as simplistic as a comparison to a meeting at Starbucks. It is true to say that we live in a world in which media distractions are ubiquitous. If I'm trying to have a conversation with someone I love yet I'm distracted by TV, or music or some other such influence, it's fair to say that my conversation will hardly be of any substance or depth. Whether it's the semantics of the term "quiet time" that you disagree with, I imagine you certainly are not opposed to the idea of prayer in a place of isolation in much the same way Jesus did when he had fed the five thousand and then retired to a secluded place for upwards of six hours. By the way, thanks for showing some love to the Clarks on my blog.
aaron
· 1 year ago
Prayer in isolation is a must! It’s just the idea that we “have a certain place” or “only a certain time” where we can be with or hear from God that I’m against. Thanks for the thoughts and post!!
K-Mad
· 1 year ago
Aaron,
I think about the verse that says "be still and know that I am God" and I just have to think, in no way does it say to be quiet, just still. I don't really understand what "quiet time" means, but you and patrick and jonathan have all made good points and strong cases agaisnt what it means. Or doesn't mean. Thanks for this blog, you have really uplifted me with your blogs. Your friend,
K-Mad
aaron
· 1 year ago
thanks brother. time with God..anywhere, all the time! Peace.
All Comments
Mat. 6:6
Jonathan-totally agree
a cliche is a word that or phrase that looses its meaning. Quiet time has been used so freely it has lost some meaning.
baptist roots huh?
we're on the same page!
i agree. One of the best "quiet times" i've ever had was sitting in a park on a warm day, feeling the breeze and watching my little girls play on the swings. I was alive in that moment. God was alive in that moment
I'm loving this series!
And I don't think that our times with God always need to be "quiet." Some of the best time I've spent with God was with music blaring and me singing at the top of my lungs in my car. :-)
Brad Ruggles
www.bradruggles.com
Thanks for your posts today!
Enjoy spending your entire day with Jesus Christ!
Regardless of what you call it or when you do it, it is essential to deepening your relationship. And I think when people ask, their question is probably something deeper they have a desire to know.
Just my two cents.
thanks beartracks!
I hear what you're saying, however, I don't think the concept of quiet time is quite as simplistic as a comparison to a meeting at Starbucks. It is true to say that we live in a world in which media distractions are ubiquitous. If I'm trying to have a conversation with someone I love yet I'm distracted by TV, or music or some other such influence, it's fair to say that my conversation will hardly be of any substance or depth. Whether it's the semantics of the term "quiet time" that you disagree with, I imagine you certainly are not opposed to the idea of prayer in a place of isolation in much the same way Jesus did when he had fed the five thousand and then retired to a secluded place for upwards of six hours.
By the way, thanks for showing some love to the Clarks on my blog.
It’s just the idea that we “have a certain place” or “only a certain time” where we can be with or hear from God that I’m against. Thanks for the thoughts and post!!
I think about the verse that says "be still and know that I am God" and I just have to think, in no way does it say to be quiet, just still. I don't really understand what "quiet time" means, but you and patrick and jonathan have all made good points and strong cases agaisnt what it means. Or doesn't mean. Thanks for this blog, you have really uplifted me with your blogs. Your friend,
K-Mad
time with God..anywhere, all the time!
Peace.