PART 1: LISTENING TO GOD
Begin your Quiet Time by reading a passage of Scripture. Select and read a daily passage prayerfully, asking God to speak to you as you read it. Ask the Lord to call to your attention any:
- Examples to follow.
- Commands to obey.
- Errors to confess.
- Sins to quit.
- Promises to claim.
- New thoughts about God.
Use a Quiet Time journal to keep a record of the insights you gain as God speaks to you through His Word.
PART 2: TALKING TO GOD
As you talk to God each day, have your conversations cover these five areas:
1. Praise:
Praise is closely related to thanksgiving, but there is a difference. Praise involves adoring God for who He is. Thanksgiving is thanking God for what He has done. Praise is showing love to God; thanksgiving is expressing gratitude. God is to be praised for His character. He is to be thanked for His actions.
Begin your prayer by praising God. For example, “I love You, God. I praise You for being who You are.”
2. Confession
- Ask the Lord to make you aware of any sins that are hurting your fellowship with Him.
- Confess each sin individually to the Lord.
- Agree with God that the sin is wrong.
- Express your desire to avoid these sins in the future.
- By faith, claim His forgiveness.
- Right the wrong to whatever extent you can.
- Accept by faith the fact that you are totally cleansed (1 John 1:9).
3. Thanksgiving
Express your thankfulness for specific things. Cultivate a general attitude of thankfulness whatever the circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
4. Intercession – Praying for Others
Pray for the needs of other people. In your mind draw together God and the person in need. God’s grace will meet the needs of that person.
5. Petition – Praying for Yourself
- Pray for spiritual growth.
- Pray for your material needs.
- Share with God the desires of your heart and trust Him to respond in the best possible way.
Be willing to act on your prayers. For example, if you pray that a friend will recover from grief over a relative who has died, be willing to share words of encouragement and deeds of love with that friend.