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The Private Life of the Pious Believer
     

 


By Kevin Conner

Consider for a moment some of the great heroes of the faith. They are seen preaching wonderful sermons and leading far reaching revivals. They are heralded as men of God who preach the Word with every fiber of their being. On occasion we see into the private lives of these pious men. We are given brief statements as to their personal walk with their Lord and Savior. The same is true of those in the pages of Scripture.

What do these and others do to foster a vibrant relationship with Christ? A glimpse into the life of Jesus helps us to understand. “In the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there” (Mark 1:35). Jesus was not only setting an example. He was living the truth of the necessity of fellowship with God. A quiet time has been said to be a lot of things, but I believe that Jeremiah provides the aim and goal of our quiet time and relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Thus says the LORD, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises loving-kindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

The aim and goal of quiet time is to seek to know and understand God. This is both an achievable goal and eternal trek. We can know and understand God, yet as we do, we find that there is more to know and understand.

“Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable” (Psalms 145:3).

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33)

Our faith is based on a relationship with God, and as we grow in our understanding of God, we will grow in our faith towards God. As we grow in our faith towards God, we will grow in our love towards God. As we grow in our love towards God, we will grow in our obedience to God. As we grow in our obedience to God, we will grow in our relationship with God, and the cycle continues. This relationship does not just happen on its own. We must work at taking the time to spend learning and growing in our understanding of God. Consider the following helps in developing a consistent quiet time.

  1. Prepare for your time – Preparation is vital to the development of a consistent quiet time. This includes deciding on a time and place for this special time. The place needs to be a place that has few interruptions. Also, have the place prepared with a Bible, notebook, pen, or any other items you may need to help you in your time. Taking the time to prepare these things will also help in preparing your heart.
  2. Prepare for your study – The entire Bible is inspired by God and therefore we are able to learn about God through any passage, but I would encourage you to have an organized way of reading and study. This may mean reading through the Bible in a year or finding a study guide that helps you through a particular book. Another suggestion might be to work through a particular characteristic of God as He reveals Himself through Scripture.
  3. Prepare for your growth – Consider journaling what God has taught you through your time together. Often parents will measure their child's growth on a chart or door jam. It is fun to look back and see how much the child has grown. The same is true with our spiritual growth. We can look back see from where God has brought us. Throughout Scripture, God reminds His children of their history.
  4. Remember your goal – The goal of your relationship is to know and understand God. In doing this, we will see areas in our own lives that need to be surrendered to Him. In closing his book, Peter says, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Our relationship with God is the most important and vital part of our lives. Consider the words of David:

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalms 119:9-11).

  
 
 

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