My most treasured time each day is quiet time with the Lord. Today, I wonder what it would be like now if I hadn’t been inspired early on by my parents.

One of my fondest memories was seeing my Dad have daily quiet time in his office. Though he was a busy farmer, I knew he would be there every morning. The secret to his Christian life was (and still is) his time with God.

The same is true for us. Our most important relationship with God is the foundation for the rest of life.

Today, we will look at how you can get the most out of your devotional time and encourage your children to do the same.

Evaluate Your Spiritual State 

I would encourage you to begin with these two questions: 

First, “Do I know Christ?” Is He your Lord and Savior? Just being around Christians doesn’t make you one. Do you know Him personally? (John 3, Ephesians 2, Acts 17:16-31, Romans 1-6).

Second, “How close is my walk with God?” If you are His child, then your relationship needs to grow, just like all other relationships.

Grasp Quiet Time as the Key to Spiritual Life

Olympic champion and missionary to China Eric Liddell stated, “The Christian life should be a life of growth. I believe the secret of growth is to develop the devotional life.” 

John chapter 15 describes what it truly means to grow as we abide in Christ. Abiding in Christ is not a powerless piety that has nothing to do with real life. Rather, it’s a personal relationship that transforms how we live every single minute, not just Sunday.

Real abiding means spending meaningful time with God daily, and allowing Him to transform our lives and actions for His glory and kingdom. Truly, serving Him is the most noble mission on earth, made possible through abiding with Him as His grace flows through us.

Instill the Daily Discipline of Quiet Time

At age 7, I remember having my personal Bible time early in the morning on the couch with my siblings who could read. We would all say that was the most rewarding habit that was cultivated, one that has only deepened with time.

To instill or improve this discipline, ask yourself these questions:

• When will I read the Bible?
• Where will I read it?
• What will I read? Most of us began reading the New Testament or the entire Bible through in a year. Sometimes it keeps it fresh to switch up your plan. We are currently enjoying Eric Liddell’s Bible reading plan which has a different theme for each month.

Your time with God must be a daily non-negotiable. As Martin Luther said, “I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

Prepare Your Heart 

When you open God’s Word is your spirit rushed or at peace? Do you find quietness in your spirit and in your surroundings?

Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 119:18 says, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

Sing, pray, or listen to music in preparation to gleaning from scripture.

Profit from the Word

Benefiting from the Word requires both diligence and persistence in order to “rightly divine the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).. Here are a few questions to ask about the Bible:

• What does it say? It’s not important what we wish the Bible says, but what it actually says. The Bible is not simply a dictionary, it is a Divine Book. 
• What does it mean? Take the time to meditate on scripture. Understand the context. Look up difficult words with an English dictionary or a Greek-Hebrew dictionary like Strong’s. Cross-reference to other relevant passages.
• How can I apply it? Bible study without surrendered living is dangerous. We should read until we find something to obey. 

The Power of The Word in Family

Today, I have my quiet time first thing. Often, later on Cassidy and I will discuss what we both learned. But all of that came from parents who instilled in us a love for God’s Word.

As 2 Timothy 3:15-17 says, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

In the end, there’s nothing that can transform you and your family like God’s Word. Will you study it? Will you surrender to it?

Question: Will you love God’s Word and teach your children to love it as well?