Basic, Simple, Straightforward Quiet Time - Philippians

Basic, Simple, Straightforward Quiet Time - Philippians

A daily quiet time - time reading God’s word, reflecting on what we’ve read, praying, and applying it to our lives - is something every Christian knows she needs.  Yet, between the demands of marketplace, marriage, and motherhood, we often struggle to consistently get this time.  However, with fifteen minutes a day, you can have consistent meaningful quiet times that transform your life.

What you need

1. Bible

2. Journal 

3. Pen

What you do

1. Pray - Open your Bible and pray something as simple as, “God open my heart to hear your voice.  Please speak to me as I read the Bible.  This is not a long extended time of prayer for the nations, the presidential election, or all the very real needs in your circle of friends, family, co-workers, etc.  You simply are asking God to speak to you and enable you to hear His voice. 
2. Read - Each day you’ll read between one and five verses, to wherever there is a natural break.  
3. Write - Now, here's where your journal and pen comes in.  In your journal, write today's date and then copy these verses in your journal.  Copying the verses slows you down, helps you to think, and hits on a different part of your brain than reading.
4. Reflect - Look back at what you wrote and think about it.  Pray as you're thinking.  Below where you wrote the verses, write your reflections, and possibly your prayers. You'll write in your words and in your way.  And when you do this, you're taking God's Word into your heart, your mind, your life.  You're reading it, writing it, praying it. By actively engaging in what you're reading, you'll be much more likely to actually apply it to your life.
5. Pray - You're fifteen minutes is almost done.  Most likely you've prayed as you were writing, so this is really just a prayer to close out your quiet time.  Again, it can be as simple as, “Lord, thank you for your Word.  Thank you for speaking to me.  Help me to remember your Word through the day and live it out.”

While this method works for any book of the Bible, I've laid out a four-week schedule for Philippians to help you learn the BSS Quiet Time Method.  

Philippians

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Philippians 1	1:1-5	1:6-11	1:12-14	1:15-18a	1:18b-21	1:22-26	1:27-30
Philippians 2	2:1-4	2:5-8	2:9-11	2:12-13	2:14-18	2:19-24	2:25-30
Philippians 3	3:1-3	3:4-7	3:7-9	3:10-11	3:12-14	3:15-17	3:18-21
Philippians 4	4:1	4:2-3	4:4-7	4:8-9	4:10-13	4:14-20	4:21-23

Basic.  Simple.  Straightforward.  

Fifteen minutes a day.  

Every day.

Transformational.