May 12, 2005
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Quiet Time Heretic
A couple of times now I have posted on other people’s blogs that I don’t believe in quiet time. I thought I would clarify what I mean by that.
It is not that I think that it is wrong to have a quiet time. It is just that my experience has not led me to believe that it is quite as necessary to spiritual growth as I was told. A lot of people have said things to the effect that you will never grow as a Christian if you do not have a quiet time. Well, the Bible never says “Thou shalt have a quiet time,” now does it? In fact the closest thing I can think of in the Bible to a quiet time is Daniel’s habit of praying three times a day.
Granted, the elements that usually make up a quiet time, that is, prayer and Bible reading are pretty necessary to Christian growth. But who says you need to do those all by your lonesome all the time? I thought so for many years. I kept trying to find a time for one. But with many kids and being pregnant or nursing, or both, all the time, it was pretty difficult. I was particularly prone to falling asleep any time I could find a quiet minute to spare, that is, if I didn’t get interrupted first.
Then, in January of 2001 my husband decided to institute family worship. That year we read through the entire Bible aloud as a family and we have continued to do so every year since. We use the KJV One Year Bible and just go straight through it. We occasionally sing the psalms or read portions in French. Sometimes we get a little bit behind (right now we are about a week behind) and sometimes we even get a little bit ahead, but we have made it through the Bible four times so far and we plan to continue this as long as possible because it has been such a great blessing.
It is much easier for me to keep my mind from wandering when the Bible is read aloud. I don’t have to worry about interruptions since all the kids are there paying attention. We have the benefit of sharing our insights with each other and asking each other questions. In fact, I was astounded the first year how much more clear certain themes became than when I had read the Bible to myself. It was as if I had been able to gloss over them when I read to myself, but when they were read aloud I could really see them. I have received much more benefit from family worship than any quiet times I tried to have after I had children.
Now, I don’t mean to say that we have arrived at the perfect, one size fits all, approach to Bible study. Obviously, there are many situations in which other methods would be more appropriate. But that’s really my point. Quiet time is a very good thing for some people. There may even come a day when I will be able to have a quiet time again (though if I do, I probably won’t use that term to refer to it,) but it is never commanded in the Bible and it is not a magic bullet to a victorious Christian walk. I don’t think that people should be burdened with the obligation to have a quiet time when they could incorporate regular prayer and Bible study in their lives in many other ways.
Comments (4)
:angeltrumpet: This is a beautiful post, and I love what you guys do as a family!
:scratchchin: In my humble, quite limited opinion, what is right for each person is different. My mother always told me I needed to have a quiet time every morning, but I’m not a morning person. It takes me a long time to wake up and I am NOT at all alert. So, I like to read or do whatever it is I prefer before bed which is usually midnight and I often fall asleep saying my prayers. This used to bother me but not anymore. I read in the Psalms that our spirit prays for us as we sleep so if I fall asleep in prayer then woo hoo! :pease:
Thanks for sharing about the names of your children. They are so beautiful. Are you and your husband American or another nationality? You mentioned hymns in french and you mentioned the Irish names, so I wondered.
Have a great night! :zipit:
Danielle, It’s great that your family has worship together! And I think that’s a fine time to get your Bible reading/listening in. But I do think it is important for every believer to spend some time (I’m not saying how much) with the Lord privately in prayer and not just in the family setting.
I do have my “quiet time” or whatever ya want to call it, in the morning because I am a morning person. I could never do it a nite like Ms. Carolyn cause I’m just non-funcitioning at that time. I agree ya gotta make it work within your own situation!
Have a great weekend. :purpleflower:
Love ya, Jenn
:banana: Oprah does this. She works out twice a day, 4 days a week. BUT, she does 150 sit-ups every morning and every night regardless. I will not be that happy about the exercise! In fact, mine will only be my yard work. I do so much of it and I know I’m burning a lot out there. However, I did break my wrist yesterday so who knows what I’ll get in there. :rotfl: Any weight loss I can result in will make me happy! :love:
hiy mommy pes col misiz micdonl lov Aidan