Comments on: The Quiet Time: What Is It Good For? http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/ theology. church. culture. life. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cathy http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/#comment-2826 Cathy Thu, 11 Jan 2007 02:23:40 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/#comment-2826 Joe, I love your posts on quiet time. I felt like a failure for many years because I didn't maintain a regular morning quiet time. Then it was pointed out to me that for thousands of years that most believers did not have acess to a personal copy of the Scripture...they could not "read their Bible every day"... I came to understand daily quiet time is a private devotional thing between Him and me. He and I have a relationship...our fellowship is ongoing. Sometimes my quiet time takes place in the car as I travel alone; sometimes on the steps outside; sometimes in the solitude of the kitchen as I wash dishes. I may meditate on a Scripture committed to memory, or on his blessings; or I may pour out my longings and desires and disappointments. At any rate, the time is private and devotional. There is no right or wrong way to do it, nothing to be measured. It certainly behooves any believer to know and understand the Scripture. This is where and why ongoing regular Bible study is imperative. It can be during a quiet time; but it can be in Sunday School, while hearing radio Bible teaching, etc. At any rate it is a personal study of the Bible aided by the teaching and instruction of the Holy Spirit and those teachers we avail ouselves of. At any rate, we work out what "works" for us---with the life and schedule God gives us. To assess a person's spirituality based upon a measure or assessment of one's quiet time is a travesty. We have not arrived...we are "walking"...thankfully in the grace God extends to us...He is gracious. If we are failing in any area or any way He is capable of pricking our hearts and wooing us back to Himself. We certainly don't need to be beaten over the head by believers who deem themselves our judge and say we are less than because we don't do quiet time their way. Yes, Jesus rose early in the morning and went to a quiet place and prayed. But he also did not marry. I am married; and often there is not a quiet place for me to go, and usually not early in the morning. But that does not preclude my quiet devotional time with Him. When I was desiring to maintain a daily quiet time, it was a matter of pride...no one was going to be able to point the finger at me. Now I say, point all you want. I know I am "less than"...I can admit that.....but, He loves me anyway. And I have nothing to prove. I don't have to prove my righteousness to anyone, nor should I even try. I think trying to "prove" my righteousness only shows how unrighteous I really am. Joe, I love your posts on quiet time. I felt like a failure for many years because I didn’t maintain a regular morning quiet time. Then it was pointed out to me that for thousands of years that most believers did not have acess to a personal copy of the Scripture…they could not “read their Bible every day”…

I came to understand daily quiet time is a private devotional thing between Him and me. He and I have a relationship…our fellowship is ongoing. Sometimes my quiet time takes place in the car as I travel alone; sometimes on the steps outside; sometimes in the solitude of the kitchen as I wash dishes. I may meditate on a Scripture committed to memory, or on his blessings; or I may pour out my longings and desires and disappointments. At any rate, the time is private and devotional. There is no right or wrong way to do it, nothing to be measured.

It certainly behooves any believer to know and understand the Scripture. This is where and why ongoing regular Bible study is imperative. It can be during a quiet time; but it can be in Sunday School, while hearing radio Bible teaching, etc. At any rate it is a personal study of the Bible aided by the teaching and instruction of the Holy Spirit and those teachers we avail ouselves of. At any rate, we work out what “works” for us—with the life and schedule God gives us.

To assess a person’s spirituality based upon a measure or assessment of one’s quiet time is a travesty. We have not arrived…we are “walking”…thankfully in the grace God extends to us…He is gracious.

If we are failing in any area or any way He is capable of pricking our hearts and wooing us back to Himself. We certainly don’t need to be beaten over the head by believers who deem themselves our judge and say we are less than because we don’t do quiet time their way.

Yes, Jesus rose early in the morning and went to a quiet place and prayed. But he also did not marry.

I am married; and often there is not a quiet place for me to go, and usually not early in the morning. But that does not preclude my quiet devotional time with Him. When I was desiring to maintain a daily quiet time, it was a matter of pride…no one was going to be able to point the finger at me. Now I say, point all you want. I know I am “less than”…I can admit that…..but, He loves me anyway. And I have nothing to prove.

I don’t have to prove my righteousness to anyone, nor should I even try. I think trying to “prove” my righteousness only shows how unrighteous I really am.

]]> By: Joe Thorn http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/#comment-2825 Joe Thorn Sat, 06 Jan 2007 23:11:59 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/#comment-2825 Thanks for understanding Steve. I am actually building to something that I imagine you will mostly like (who knows, maybe you'll like it all). But I am building, one small piece at a time. I have found that just jumping to the end, or the carrying-out of the habit itself, is less fruitful than my approach. Thanks for understanding Steve. I am actually building to something that I imagine you will mostly like (who knows, maybe you’ll like it all). But I am building, one small piece at a time. I have found that just jumping to the end, or the carrying-out of the habit itself, is less fruitful than my approach.

]]> By: steveprost http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/#comment-2824 steveprost Sat, 06 Jan 2007 23:06:23 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/#comment-2824 response to #6: Appreciate the series, Joe, just trying to set the tone a bit and embolden you a little to not feel you are not too far out on a limb in daring to push just a little bit more on making regular morning meditative times in the Word and prayer a strong 'normative' biblical principle commended (if not necessarily universally mandated as 100% imperative) for all believers unless they can come up with some real good reason why they are an individual exception as they seek to glorify God. I could list many more historical heroes of the faith that strongly urge intense regular devotional times in the morning, but will take your hint (for now). response to #6: Appreciate the series, Joe, just trying to set the tone a bit and embolden you a little to not feel you are not too far out on a limb in daring to push just a little bit more on making regular morning meditative times in the Word and prayer a strong ‘normative’ biblical principle commended (if not necessarily universally mandated as 100% imperative) for all believers unless they can come up with some real good reason why they are an individual exception as they seek to glorify God. I could list many more historical heroes of the faith that strongly urge intense regular devotional times in the morning, but will take your hint (for now).

]]> By: steveprost http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/#comment-2823 steveprost Sat, 06 Jan 2007 22:57:37 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/#comment-2823 The great British missionary George Mueller on morning 'quiet times', from his autobiography, from excerpt available <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/Topics/Devotions/Devotions020.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>. <strong>Edit by Joe Thorn</strong>: Steve, please don't post lengthy material from others in the comments. But feel free to put up a link if you like. Thanks. The great British missionary George Mueller on morning ‘quiet times’, from his autobiography, from excerpt available here.

Edit by Joe Thorn: Steve, please don’t post lengthy material from others in the comments. But feel free to put up a link if you like. Thanks.

]]> By: Joe Thorn http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/#comment-2822 Joe Thorn Sat, 06 Jan 2007 22:56:33 +0000 http://www.joethorn.net/2006/12/26/the-quiet-time-what-is-it-good-for/#comment-2822 Steve, I think you're jumping the gun a bit. This post is simply pointing out the benefit of the quiet time, not arguing for anything else. But I promise an upcoming post will deal with all of the things you are bringing up, and of course you are welcome to leave relevant comments there. Steve, I think you’re jumping the gun a bit. This post is simply pointing out the benefit of the quiet time, not arguing for anything else.

But I promise an upcoming post will deal with all of the things you are bringing up, and of course you are welcome to leave relevant comments there.

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