Understanding the first six chapters of John's Gospel

John 20:31 “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Introduction:
The aim of today's post is to summarize the first six chapters of John's Gospel. In times past we have explored John's Gospel is various posts. In recent months we have periodically worked our way through the first six chapters. Today we want to pull together what we can understand about Jesus and His identity, ministry and mission in John chapters 1-6.

I. The Son of God is God the Son

John 1:1-9.

II. The Son of God is God the Son in the flesh. John 1:10-18

III. Amazing Testimonies about Jesus – John 1:19-51

A. Lamb of God = Son of God’s Mission.   1:19-36

B. Christ = Son of God’s Ministry. 1:37-42

C. King of Israel = Son of God’s Majesty. 1:43-49

D. Son of Man = Son of God as Mediator.  1:50-51

IV. The mediator, a wedding, a miracle & you. John 2:1-11

V. Jesus’ cleansing power – John 2:12-25

VI. The enabling power of the New Birth
John 3:1-21

VII. Enjoyment of Jesus Christ. John 3:22-36

VIII. Treasure, Lord, Savior. John 4:1-43

IX. The Miraculous Jesus. John 4:44-54

X. Where Jesus works and your response. 5:1-18

XI. Four truths that save the soul. 5:18-30

A. One Sovereign God, Who is Father.   John 5:18-24

B. One Lord Jesus, equal to the Father. John 5:19-30

C. One revealed book(s) - the Bible. John 5:31-47

D. One Gospel. John 5:24,33-34,40

XII. The Glorious Provider: Jesus Christ
John 6:1-14

XIII. He is Lord before, in and after your storm. John 6:15-21

XIV. God's bread from heaven. John 6:22-70

Closing thoughts
Today we considered the first six chapters of John's Gospel. As we close out today's post, why ought someone study John's Gospel as a whole? In considering the key verse of John 20:31 (see the opening of today's post), we can note five such reasons:

1. Increases trusting confidence in Him
2. Knowing Jesus is the Christian life
3. Persuading others about Jesus 
4. Growth in sanctification or the process of becoming more and more like Jesus

5. Defeating doubt

The doorknob of faith

Romans 1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake

Introduction:
What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ?  As the Apostle Paul begins his great letter to the church at Rome, the mark of genuine saving faith is demonstrated by the willingness to live out God's word.  When you see that phrase "obedience of faith", that little word "of" tells us that there is a relationship between "obedience" and "faith".  The relationship in this verse is that of a specific effect arising from a particular cause.  The effect in this case is obedience - willingness to follow Jesus Christ in what He says in His word.  So what is the cause?  Faith. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone unto a walk of faith that is never to be alone - but rather accompanied by works flowing from faith.

Faith is the doorknob of the Gospel that God points me to enter into a saving relationship with Him
The idea of "faith" being described by the great Apostle Paul is that of "saving faith". Faith in the original language refers to "firm persuasion" or "trust" in the truth of a matter. Ephesians 2:8-9 describes this saving faith as a gift that is expressed as a prompt response on our part to the voice of Jesus calling us to Himself by the Word of God. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 describes what takes place at saving faith:

"Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior."

Passages such as Psalm 19:7, Romans 10:17 and James 1:18 detail how faith occurs by the agency of God's word.  

To illustrate this point, we could liken God's grace brought to me by the Holy Spirit as the setting up of a doorway  - a doorway called "grace through Jesus Christ". The Holy Spirit points out to me in my sinful condition that there is a doorknob on that door called "faith". He informs me that unless I turn the doorknob of faith, I cannot enter into salvation. 

The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 3:23 "But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed."  Adherence to morality or clinging onto one's self-made righteousness will not gain access into salvation. At our home we have a door through which we gain entry into the house. If we have groceries or some other item in our arms, we have to lay such items down to use the doorknob. If we don't "let go" of what we have, we'll be stuck outside. 

Once the Holy Spirit shows me the door marked "grace through Jesus Christ" with its doorknob marked "faith", the response necessary to turn the doorknob is left to me. Letting go of one's self-confidence, self-righteousness and plain-old reliance on self is involved in saving faith. Once I act in response to His working and turn the knob of faith, I immediately begin participating in the very life of God (2 Peter 1:3-4). What God then does is take the doorknob of faith and places it in my hand. 

From the moment of saving faith, every opportunity will be presented to me whether I will follow through in obedience to God or try to go at it on my on strength. As long as I apply the doorknob of faith, which God tells me is now mine to use and develop, I can walk through any doorway of challenge, opportunity and trial that stands on God's ordained pathway of Christian growth. 

Why the Gospel is so powerful - introducing Paul's Letter to the Romans

Romans 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Introduction:
Today we are considering what is arguably the most important New Testament book outside the Gospels: Paul’s letter to the Romans. The Bible Knowledge Commentary notes on the importance of Paul's letter to the Romans:

"This letter is the premier example of the epistolary form of writing, not only in the Pauline body of material and in the New Testament but also in all of ancient literature. It stands first in every list of the Apostle Paul’s writings though it was not first in time of composition. This bears witness to the importance of the work both in its theme and in its content."

A suggested theme for this great Bible book is: "God’s powerful Gospel". The key verse: Romans 1:16-17, gives us the core of this theme: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” 

As we consider the introduction to this magnificent literary masterpiece, today’s post is going to answer why the Gospel is so powerful to change your life. To answer this, we can first note that the Gospel is 

1. Based on powerful living words.   Romans 1:1-2
The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the words of God revealed and written by the prophets and apostles. 2 Peter 1:10-12 notes: "As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look." 

When one considers the words of the Bible, and specifically, the Gospel message of which they compose, we discover that God has ordained the scriptures as His tool for the conversion of sinners. James 1:18 states: "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures." Such words spiritual raise the dead sinner in the event of saving faith.

We understand from God's work of creation that He verbalized existence into being. Such an act was demonstration of His power as seen in Psalm 33:6 - "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host." 

As one traces other instances of God's power and His speaking forth through the Bible, we begin to witness a correspondence between God's speaking and power. For example, we find God's power and word at the Exodus described in Psalm 106:8 "Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known." 

We find further evidence of this relationship with respect to God's word in power in how He preserves the believer's salvation. The Apostle Peter notes in 1 Peter 1:5 "who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Or again, 2 Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." These many examples ought to convey how powerful God's words are. His words, whether spoken over the creation or in written form, are powerful. Such words bring life and light. The Gospel is composed of such words and is powerful because of its basis in God's words. But notice why else the Gospel is so powerful...

2. Bringing forth of the powerful Christ to you. Romans 1:3-7

The marvel of Paul's opening to Romans is that he explains how Jesus Himself is brought to the sinner in salvation by the Gospel. Unlike all other religions in the world, only Christianity claims that at the verbalization of its core message (the Gospel), its founder (Jesus Christ) is brought to the sinner. 

Christ is brought not only in the salvation of sinners, but He is furthermore committed to remaining with the Christian throughout their post-conversion life (what we call sanctification). When we break down Romans 1:3-7, we gain understanding concerning who Jesus is , and why He is so powerful.  

A. First, He is the Divine Son in Romans 1:3a. Titus 2:13 reminds us that Jesus Christ is the "great God and Savior". John 1:1 rejoins with the emphasis upon the Son being co-eternal with God the Father. When Jesus Christ is brought forth in the Gospel, we instantly are brought into contact with the Personification of omnipotence itself!  

B. Secondly, we find that this Son came to be the man, Christ Jesus, in Romans 1:3b. In having the eternal Son, we now have Him as He is in His glorified humanity. His perfect humanity is accessible to our ever-perfecting, still-needing-to-be-completed humanity. We have the "right man on our side" as the hymn of Martin Luther proclaims.

C. Thirdly, this Son, who became man, came to die and rise from the dead to achieve salvation accomplished, as noted in Romans 1:4. Theologians often speak of Christ's overall redemptive work in two distinct ways: salvation accomplished and salvation applied. The former refers to His once and for all death and resurrection achieved in history (see 1 Peter 3:18). The latter occurs the moment the sinner responds in saving faith to His call in the Gospel (see John 5:24-25; Colossians 3:16).  

D. Fourthly, we find that this Jesus calls us by His Spirit to experience salvation applied in faith. Such saving faith in turn ought to lead to a changed life lived out in daily obedience to His Lordship. These realities are spelled out most plainly in Romans 1:6-7. 

As one follows the argument of the Apostle concerning the powerful Christ brought forth in the Gospel, we find that He changes lives. If a person who has heard the Gospel proclaimed remains unchanged, it is due to their persistent refusal to respond in faith to the Gospel. They may very well had "heard" the Gospel with their physical ears. However, there must be an inward work done by the Spirit to where the sinner's "inward ears-of-the-heart" are unstopped. The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 notes concerning this work of the Spirit, called "regeneration":

"There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace."

Therefore, the second reason why the Gospel is so powerful is because of the Person of Jesus Christ brought forth in it. 

Closing thoughts:
Today we considered the introduction to Paul's letter to the church at Rome in answer to the question: "why is the Gospel so powerful?" We discovered two reasons: The Gospel is based on powerful living words and the Gospel brings forth the powerful living Christ. Whenever we consider these two reasons together, we understand that upon reception in saving faith, changed hearts and lives result.  

Defeating doubt, worry and fear this year

Romans 15:4 tells us: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” 

Introduction:
It is usually after Christmas and into January that people begin to experience waves of worry, doubt and fear. Along with the New Year comes concerns about how one will overcome what can be sometimes the anxieties associated with mounting expectations for the upcoming year. 

So, what is the difference between doubt, worry and fear? For Christians, doubt has to do with resistance to past insights from God and His Word spoken to me in the past.  Fear has to do with my hesitation in responding to God and His Word in the present.  If doubt has to do with what God said in the past, and fear has to do with how I’m relating to Him in the present, then worry deals with my perceptions of what He will do in the future. These spiritual maladies lie in the background of many of the garden variety worries, doubts and fears we experience on a daily basis. Dr. Adrian Rogers has noted that worry is a mild form of atheism. When one really thinks about it - doubt, fear and worry are species of unbelief. 

Now in pointing these things out, I certainly do not claim to be immune from such maladies. I find at times such states of anxiety coming over me like the periodic waves that roll onto the beach due to the invisible tug of the moon's gravity in the patterns of tide. The anxious soul can drift into such states without hardly being aware. Experiencing such things is not a sin itself, as long as we don't entertain them and give into their lies. If we do, there are provisions of grace to overcome them. These three emotional and spiritual states are weaponry used by the enemy to plague the people of God.  The Christian's spiritual warfare includes battling these species of unbelief that want to run unchecked in the human heart. When left untamed, doubt, fear and worry will contribute to blurring our vision of God and His character.  

Thankfully, God has given us the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Sovereignty Lordship of Jesus Christ and the scriptures to combat these and other devices used by the enemy of our souls.  Thus we will considering some key passages from one of the great chapters in the Bible - Psalm 37.

Remember, use your sword in battling worry, fear and doubt

So where are you finding yourself doubting, worrying or fearing?  I would encourage you to read the scriptures out loud.  What Paul writes in Romans 10:17 concerning the beginnings of saving faith also applies to how one is kept in saving faith: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  I would encourage you to turn to Psalm 37 note some incredible verses that gives the believer the arsenal needed to defeat doubt, worry and fear.  

1. Warnings to heed

Psalm 37:8 states: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”  Notice that underlined word “fret”?  At least three times we find it mentioned in this Psalm.  In the Hebrew language this word “fret” is translated for the term “chara”.  "Chara" refers to literally getting oneself all hot and bothered or stirring up oneself into a heated frenzy.  Does that describe how you are feeling and dealing with life?  Do you feel pressure building in your gut, like you are going to explode?  That’s the Psalmist's warning to us.  So what is the solution? Consider the next thought.

2. Walk in the rest of God

Psalm 37:1-8 acts as a series of bullets that you can use when that disturbing, troubling notion grips your heart.  Note how God gives a series of commands.  Commands are particularly important, since for every command in scripture there is always a provision of grace to carry them out.  God’s commands are not given because I’m simply able to do them.  Many people get discouraged when trying to carry out God’s commands.  They will say: “They are just too hard”.  Dear friend, the commands of God are not hard, they are impossible – that is, if you are not taking advantage of God’s provision of grace. 

Note how we are given instruction on resting is God in the following verses: “Fret not” in 37:1; “Trust” in verse 3; “Delight in the Lord” in verse 4; “Commit your way” in verse 5.  With these commands we see the provision of grace in verse 6: “And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”  

So if you are in the midst of darkness, note that God’s word gives you provision to enjoy an open heaven, a noonday sun despite the midnight of your circumstance.  Psalm 37:7 tells us to “rest in the Lord” and in verse 8 to “cease from anger”.  We are not promised immunity from trouble, however we are given the “rest of God” whereby we can rise above doubt, worry and fear. So heed the warning and walk in God's rest as you battle doubt, worry and fear. But now notice one final strategy in overcoming worry, fear and doubt... 

3. Winning the battle (by knowing that God is fighting for you)

Psalm 37:40 states: “And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.”  What is remarkable about this Psalm is that it begins with the command not to fret, and it ends with the confidence of victorious faith.  This is not a “pie in the sky, sweet by and by” theology, this is real life doctrine for the "nasty now-and-now".  Knowing that God will never leave me, not forsake me, is more than enough to overcome doubt, worry and fear.

The importance of devotional books and Christian spiritual biographies in one's daily quiet time

Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

The place of devotionals in one's daily quiet time with God
Today we consider the importance and place of looking to the scriptures and to the insights of past saints in building one's devotional life. Particularly, whenever we want to fortify our personal time with God, certain so-called "devotional writers" can greatly deepen one's walk with God. As the Apostle Paul was composing the Book of Romans, he often quoted from the Old Testament. The Old Testament was not only used to make certain theological points in Paul's letter, but certain people from the Old Testament were used to reinforce his points. 

Although Paul is referring mainly to the value of the Old Testament scriptures in the above text, he nonetheless brings forth a general principle concerning insights from past generations of Christians. This principle of the spiritual lives of past saints can be used to add concrete to our personal devotional life. Today's post aims to offer some thoughts on the importance of devotional books and spiritual biographies in one's daily quiet time.

A dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants
Over the years I have used devotional writers to guide my thinking, praying and Bible reading. To me, whenever I read the insights of past generations, I feel like a dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant. 

Recently I finished reading for a second time A.W Tozer's book: "The Pursuit of God." It amazes me how much the book affects me now versus when I first read it over ten years ago. My faith is still stretched by men like Tozer who walked in places with God that I have yet to walk. This year I plan on adding more Christian spiritual biographies to my devotional diet. Admittedly, I tend to oftentimes get too cranial in my Christian walk. What I need is a balance of the heart and mind. I have in my possession Charles Stanley's new autobiography. Even though I have only gotten into the first chapter, I'm already learning so much at the feet of this great man of God. 

Certainly there are several examples of devotional books and literature that could be mentioned. Oswald Chambers' classic devotional book: "My Utmost For His Highest" features one-page devotionals for every day of the year. This amazing book has been a blessing to me in times past. Chambers wrote in such a way as to be verging on the prophetic (meaning, he could penetrate the heart of the subject while penetrating the reader's heart as well, delivering personal, spiritually-illuminating exhortations). Other writers such as Richard Foster, St. John of Damascus, Augustine, Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards and others will stretch the heart and mind when given full attention

Closing thoughts
As you and I hopefully aim to draw closer to God this year, we ought to consider utilizing a devotional in our quiet times. There will be those times of course when we find ourselves wanting to work our way through the scriptures unencumbered by the thoughts of others. Christian devotional books or autobiographies can add freshness to our daily walk with God. The principle of recalling what other saints of God of times past have learned can greatly inform our own Christian walk in this 21st century world. 

The importance of Christian meditation in one's daily devotional life

note: above image derives from a photo off of pinterest.com. The point of the picture is to highlight the goal of having daily devotions and meditating on God's Word: spiritual maturity. 

Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."

Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Introducing an important concept in reinforcing one's daily quiet time with God: Christian meditation

Whenever you read a passage of scripture or hear a sermon, do you remember any of it five to ten minutes later. If you find, like I do, the inability to recall what was read or heard, it is a sign of the need of a very important Christian spiritual discipline called by the scriptures and Christians of old: "meditation". 

Unfortunately, when people hear the word "meditate", they conjure up images of a person sitting cross legged with hands out-stretched, finger-tips touching and the hum of the word "um". As is always the case, the enemy of our souls counterfeits the genuine articles God revealed for the betterment of the Christian.  Today we want to consider this very important concept for bridging the time one spends in their quiet-time with God to that of their daily routine: Christian meditation on God's Word.


Defining Christian Mediation
In the original language of this Psalm, the word "meditation" has to do with a "deeper pondering" over the meaning and significance of the words of scripture. We see in the above opening verses the core meaning of this concept of "meditation". Joshua 1:8 conceives of meditation on God's Word as ensuring that one won't forget what they just read or heard. In Psalm 19 we find that meditation is that "deeper pondering" that aims to make the believer's life a pleasurable one before God. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8 envisions such mediation as internalizing the virtues gleaned from God's Word and stirred-up by the Holy Spirit's kindling of the heart's affections. Ancient Christian writers often spoke of a fourfold process one went through when interacting with the Bible:

a. Reading the text

b. Meditating on the text

c. Disciplining yourself to live out the text

d. Knowing that you got the meaning of the text by praising and worshiping God.

It is the second step that bridges one's "reading" of the Bible to the realm of life application (the third step) and a lifestyle devoted to worship of God (the fourth step). 

A suggested way of meditating on God's Word
The following steps are a suggested method for practically meditating on God's Word:

1. Read the text

2. Read it again (out-loud or silently)

3. Read it a third time, marking down your initial thoughts or verbalizing to yourself what you read

4. Walk away and think on what you read

5. Come back to the text again and repeat steps 1 through 4

So Why meditate on God's Word?
Every blog I write, sermon I preach, lesson I teach, quiet time I do or sharing of God's word that I communicate requires meditation on God's Word.  When you and I meditate on scripture, we are aiming to get it from before our eyes or in our ears to reside in our hearts and out in our actions.  Meditation is what you do "in between" your times in the scriptures. You can meditate while waiting in line at the grocery store, on break at work or at lunch room at school.  As a husband, father and pastor living in the 21st century, I experience the demands that life places upon me. What mediation does is break down the artificial wall between "Christian spirituality" and "the rest of life". Without this discipline, the ability to keep ones mind clear of clutter and ones obedience clear of procrastination will be great limited. Meditating on God's Word in indeed important, but what benefits can we note about this practice?

The benefits of Christian Mediation
Notice the benefits that comes as a result of mediating on God's Word here in Psalm 19:14:

1. Right Attitudes - The Psalmist desires to please God.  Only scripture can stir up the Christian to want to live more for the Lord. (1 Peter 2:1-2)

2. Right Thoughts - How many of you want a better thought-life?  Cleanse your mind with the scriptures.
Meditating on the scripture cleanses our heart and mind.  Jesus even talks about this particular quality of the word of God. (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26).

3. Right Words -  He wants the right words to flow from his mouth.  God's word makes your "have to's" into "want to's".  As Jesus teaches, out of the overflow of the hearts comes forth the words of the mouth. (Matthew 15:18)

4. Right Motivation - The Psalmist ends this Psalm by praising God, His "Rock" and His "Redeemer".  We know from the names of God in the Bible that the term "Rock" refers ultimately to Jesus Christ.  Though the Psalmist lived 1,000 years before Jesus Christ came to this earth, He writing under Divine inspiration was referring to Him.  

Closing thoughts
When you and I meditate on the scriptures, we will be motivated to live for Jesus Christ and have a stronger daily walk with the Lord.

A few recommendations on how to begin to have daily devotions

Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. 10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

Introduction:

Today we want to consider how begin having a personal quiet time or daily devotions with God. We noted in the last post that Jesus' example is the primary reason for having a daily time with God. It is patently obvious that spending time with God in both prayer and the Word is a critical spiritual discipline for the Christian. The above text lays out the importance of being in God's Word. King David is the author. His prayerful tone in the above verses demonstrate how prayer and time in God's Word mesh together like gears in a clock. We could say that having a daily quiet time with God will enable the Christian to "run-right" during the course of the day. What we want to know is: how does one begin their quiet time? The below suggestions are not intended to be comprehensive, but rather introductory. 

1. Grab a Bible you can understand and read it everyday

The average home in America has at least one to two Bibles. If a Bible is not accessible, there are many free downloadable apps one can download into their phone or look-up on-line (such as www.biblegateway.com or New English Translation online (NET Bible). There are numerous English translations and versions available to Bible readers. I recommend that the reader begin with one of the following translations or versions: New King James Version (NKJV); New American Standard Bible (NASB); English Standard Version (ESV); Holman Standard Christian Bible (HCSB); New Living Translation (NLT) and New International Version (NIV). The King James Version (KJV) is an appropriate version for readers familiar with it and can even be used in concert with one of the above translations for easier understanding. Once you have a Bible, treat it as a close friend. Access it's pages everyday. Your strength of faith is proportional to the frequency and time spent in God's Holy Word.

2. Start small and work your way up

When it comes to doing one's quiet time, starting small is the best approach. I recommend five minutes. Start by thanking God for Who He is (His power, His glory, His Word) and for what He has done (His provision of salvation, giving you the opportunity to talk to Him in prayer). Sometimes praying through the A.C.T.S acronym can aid people new to prayer. The acronym represents different sorts of prayer: adoration / confession / thanksgiving and supplication (that is, asking God for your needs). 

Starting out one's quiet time in prayer sets the tone for the remainder of you time alone with God. Once you have prayed, focus on a verse or two. The Psalms are a good place to begin, since they deal with prayer. The following specific Psalms are really good to look at when beginning to develop one's quiet-time with God: Psalm 1; Psalm 23; Psalm 139; Psalm 150. Another book of the Bible that is strongly recommended for those wanting to grow in their faith is the New Testament book of 1 John, located near the end of the New Testament. 

By focusing on just three to four verses a day, one can easily get through 1 John in one month. As time is invested on a daily basis, the five-minute time frame will quickly be outgrown.  I can recall in my younger days how the "five-minutes" turned into the sweetest times, quickly escalating to ten minutes, then fifteen and to the point where I no longer focused on "hurrying to get it done". We all start somewhere. Ask the Holy Spirit to whet your spiritual appetite. Make your time with God a matter of increasing quantity and quality.

3. Pick a place where you won't be distracted 

Jesus would go off into a secluded place to pray. In our 24/7 world, it is very easy to be distracted. Sometimes closing the door to one's bedroom or going to a room in the house that isn't used much can be a start. Sometimes people have found that praying on the way to work or school is a great time to talk to God. If anything, integrating one's prayer time in the routines of life sets the tone for how one may approach their job, their schooling or relationships. The point is that you are carving out both time and space to be intentional in your effort to grow in fellowship with God. 

Now be forewarned: efforts at doing one's quiet time will be met by increased distraction! It is of course no surprise, since the Christian life is characterized as one of continual spiritual battle. This is why the Christian needs to be ever asking the Person of the Holy Spirit in them to stir up the desire to persevere in such moments. Just like physical exercise relative to the physical body, the momentary discomforts of life strengthen the spiritual muscles to strive harder and farther with God. May we all grow in our daily walk with the Lord.