Mighty Oaks How to have a Quiet Time

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The Basics of How to Have
A Quiet Time
 
A Template for Bible Study
A basic but helpful pattern when studying a passage of Scripture is the threefold process of observation, interpretation, and application.
Observation
This is straightforward:
Observe what the passage is saying and describing.
First, read through a portion of Scripture, then go back and make some initial observations about it: Who are the characters? What’s going on? Where is this taking place? Revisit the part of your brain that houses all that literary criticism stuff your English teacher went on and on about while you doodled with your new four-color ballpoint pen. As a quick refresher, ask yourself some basic who-what-when-where observational questions.
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Who is speaking? Who is this about? Who are the main characters?
What is the subject or event covered in the chapter? What do you learn about the people, events, or teaching?
When do/will the events occur, or when did/will something happen to someone?
Where did or will this happen? Where was it said?
Why is something being said or mentioned? Why did/will this happen? Why at that time and/or to this person/people?
How will it happen? How is it to be done? How is it illustrated?
I can never remember the “how” because it rebelliously begins with an h instead of a w. Maybe it’s the same for you. If so, that’s okay. This is just a general template; it’s not meant to be a science or a straitjacket. Once you get a feel for some of these questions, try to keep an eye out for keywords or phrases, repeated words, contrasts and comparisons, and terms of summary and conclusion(“so that,” “for this reason,” and so on).
Interpretation
Often, observation slides right into interpretation. But strictly speaking, observation refers to trying to understand what’s being said, while interpretation refers to understanding the overall meaning.
From what you’ve learned in your observation of the text, you are trying to discern a primary meaning of the passage — what the biblical author was seeking to communicate and what God was seeking to communicate through that biblical author. A particularly fruitful way to pull these things out of the passage is to ask questions such as: What sinful, broken, or fallen condition is being addressed or corrected by the passage? What is the deeper sin beneath the behavior? What prompted the author to write this passage? Keeping these questions in mind can help you uncover the primary meaning of the text.
Application
So, how does the passage apply to you and others? How can you apply God's Word to your life?
Let me suggest something here. Our reflections skip along the surface level of behavior or habits that need changing. This is okay, but a more significant application often resides at the level of our relating to God—our experiencing His grace or trusting in His character or promises. Considering this, I like to pray through specific questions that help me apply what I’ve been reading to my walk with God.
God, what are You saying to me through this passage?
In what ways am I looking to find life in things besides You, Lord?
In what ways am I seeking to earn Your favor rather than live by grace?
What do my actions suggest what I wrongly believe about Your character, our relationship, and what You’ve said in Your Word?
In what ways do we need to be more intimate in our relationship?
In what way is Jesus the answer to my problem? Particularly like thinking about the last one: In what way does Jesus provide an answer or solution to my sin problem? Getting into too much theological trouble with a question like this is hard.
A Template for Prayer
When reading Scripture, I often find that I have an intense desire to talk with God before I’ve even finished reading the passage. I’ll read about God’s mercy and want to thank Him for His mercy. Or I’ll read something about God’s power and glory and want to tell Him again how awesome He is. Sometimes, God’s holiness comes through the passage, and I’ll feel the need to confess some sin that comes to my mind or some attitude hidden in my heart that doesn’t reflect His character.
By spending time in God’s Word, we open ourselves up to His voice, and He can speak to us directly — something He often does.
Prayer is a natural response to God’s work in our lives.
The ACTS model—adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication—is helpful for me as I respond to God in prayer.
ADORATION: Telling God how great He is, why He’s great (merciful, kind), and how much we love Him for it.
CONFESSION: Acknowledging to God any known sin that is displeasing to Him so that we can come to Him unhindered, wholly surrendered, and cleansed.
THANKSGIVING: Thank God for His grace and forgiveness and for everything He’s done for us and given us.
SUPPLICATION: Asking God for things that we want Him to do for us or someone else.
Let me reassure you about this last piece of the puzzle: application. Once your heart and mind align with God, it’s okay to ask Him for personal stuff, physical stuff, an A on your statistics paper, whatever. He wants you to come to Him with everything. There’s nothing too big or small, so ask away, no matter how ridiculous you think it sounds. And the closer you grow to God through praying and reading Scripture, the better you will get at discerning His will for you and knowing what He wants you to pray for. This is a prayer that moves mountains.
Using this pattern of ACTS has helped me when I’ve not had the desire to pray. I’ve had to jump-start with ACTS when I’ve been confused, weary, sad, depressed, and outright weak. I say to myself, “Okay, adoration, right.” Then I pray, “God, you are greater than I am.” On many occasions, ACTS has guided me into an intimate time with the Lord when an intimate time with the Lord seemed impossible.
A Template for Quiet Times
Then, the template for our quiet times is as simple as combining our template for studying the Scripture and our ACTS template for prayer. But with one little nuance: sandwiching your Scripture reading between the parts of the prayer so that you’re praying before and after. It looks like this:
Talk to God.
Adoration: “Lord, I praise You for ...” (some quality or attribute of God).
Confession: “Lord, forgive me for ...” (some sin or shortcoming).
Listen to God.
Prayerfully read a passage. What does it say?
Prayerfully reflect on its meaning. What does it mean?
Prayerfully apply it to life. What does it mean to me?
Talk to God.
Thanksgiving: “Lord, I thank You for ...” (some specific blessing).
Supplication: “Lord, I ask You for ...” (requests for yourself and others).
Talk to God, listen to God, and then talk to God again. It’s that easy.
If you get used to this basic template and meet with God daily, you’ll feel closer to God, live in His grace, grow in holiness, mature in understanding His Word, and experience His forgiveness—rewarding stuff. But remember, the key to this is creating the habit and being intentional. Make time each day when this routine can and will take place.
 
 
 
 
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