The Quiet Time Quandary—Tip 3

This week we’re looking at common struggles to having a meaningful quiet time. For tips to combat Quiet Time Quandary #1—I never do a quiet time—click HERE. And click HERE for Quiet Time Quandary #2—I sometimes do a quiet time, but I’m not very committed. Wherever you find yourself, we’ll help you solve your quiet time quandary and reestablish a refreshing connection with God.

Quiet Time Quandary 3: I always do a quiet time, but it’s getting stale.

If you’re already dedicated to a regular quiet time, you’re to be commended. However, if you sense staleness, you may be falling prey to the “checklist” mentality or prizing discipline above authentic communication with God. If that’s not a problem, ask yourself if you’re doing all the talking during your quiet times. Are you giving God a chance to respond and being still long enough to hear Him? When God’s speaking to you, He always has something new to say.

Anne Ross, 58, of Nashville, Tenn., makes listening part of her daily practice. “I usually write a prayer to the Lord, speaking freely with Him about my life, longings, and struggles,” she shares. “Afterward I sit quietly for a few moments, allowing my thoughts to settle into a receptive place. Then I write down what I hear. The Lord is good in the direction that He gives me.”

The Solution

You can definitely spice things up with a new study or Bible, but don’t be afraid to change the way you do quiet time.

“I like to change my location,” Martin says. “Sometimes I go have breakfast with the Lord at my favorite hideaway place, or I go on my back porch, or take a personal retreat for a few hours at a park. I like to blog about what God’s taught me … and connect with other people.”

You too can find creative quiet time activities. Listen to a dramatized Scripture reading. Meditate on a verse through artistic expression—a drawing, a poem, a song. Rest in His presence.

But occasionally, even a seasoned quiet timer feels distant from God. What then?

“I’ve had a number of dry spells in my walk,” Clark shares. “When they come, I do nothing. I literally go to God and sit there. These times have become very meaningful to me because I have learned how to be still before God and how to listen. I have literally sat or laid down flat on my floor and said, ‘I got nothing,’ and have had some great times with God.”

Easy Step for Today

Try the Psalm challenge. Pick one Psalm and read it every day for the next 30 days. Forget boring and predictable: God will speak from His Word and say something new to you each day.