[ These are broad strokes and so if the hat does not fit, that’s fine. If it does, then you really need to work these out. ]
While there is a strong emphasis on quiet time, in the sense that no church would ever deny its importance, in the main, this part of a Christian’s life is largely broken. And looking at the materials available for quiet time, even when a Christian is regularly “doing” quiet time using some material, I believe the voice of God is sadly often far removed from the Christian.
What I mean by this is that by the time we “taste” the Word, it usually has already been processed by someone else, for example by the writer of the devotion you are reading that morning. Many of the devotions available consist of short verses and a much longer reflection by the writer. At some point I wondered why I was thinking about the writer’s thoughts than the thoughts of my God.
Most of us consume the Word as processed by some teacher, most likely from the pulpit. Or we are involved in some group discussion, or perhaps a Whatsapp picture with some pithy quote, or someone else’s thoughts. The more industrious of us may listen to some recorded sermon or lecture and these serve to feed our need of God’s Word.
But however much we may respect the teacher or preacher or lecturer, the “impact” of the Word we consume in this way surely pales when compared with a word spoken to us from God himself. We say the bible is the Word of God but we prefer to listen to someone else sharing his or her thoughts. Even if those thoughts are on the Word of God, still we are not hearing the voice of God; still we are not convicted by God; still we are not filled with passion by God.
The point I want us to consider is this: if much, most, all, of God’s Word we receive does not have the impact of God’s majesty and authority, then surely there is a fundamental weakness in our Christian life that must be redressed.
Let me suggest an exercise:
- Make recordings of Psalm 23, 1 sentence per recording, reading slowly.
- Every day, take time to be alone and undisturbed, remain quiet for 3-5 minutes, just preparing your mind and heart to listen to God’s Word.
- Play a recorded sentence, listening to it through your earphones. Play it 2 or 3 times.
- Now spend some time with what you have heard, perhaps 3-5 minutes; no activity and try not to analyse but receive, respond.
- Write down your experience, whether it is about being quiet, or when you hear God’s Word, or as you let the memory of that Word minister to you.
I pray it will be a fruitful time. Do share in the comments below.