Quiet Time Ideas
The "Prayer Hand" illustration
Start at the "pinky" finger, pointing your thumb towards you.
Confession - Agreeing with God about my sin.
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us
our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Once you go through this, you will see that just as the thumb can reach each of
your fingers, so praise should permeate your whole day.
Petition - Asking God for my needs.1 Samuel 1:27 "I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked
of Him."
Intersession - Praying for others. Ephesians 6:18,19 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of
prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for
all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be
given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,"
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what He has done for me. Ephesians 5:20 "Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Praise - Voicing my wonder about who God is.
Psalm 146:1,2 "Praise the LORD . Praise the LORD , O my soul. 2 I will praise
the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."
OR, This may be a little easier to remember...
The ACTS acrostic for your quiet time
A=Adoration:
Spend time praising the Lord by praying the Psalms back to Him (Psalm 28:7 &
100:4). Sing hymns, listening to a praise tape or praise Him for His attributes.
C=Confession:
Ask God to search your heart (Psalm 139:23,24). Confess any sins the Holy Spirit
reveals to you (Psalm. 66:18, I John 1:9). Make certain that you're filled with
the Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-20).
T=Thanksgiving:
Thank God for all that He's done and is doing in your life and the lives of
others. Write a list of what you're thankful for.
S=Supplication:
Pray for specific things each day such as personal concerns, family, upcoming
events, friends, missionaries, etc. Write down your requests so you'll have a
record of God's guidance and faithfulness.
Spend time in the Word
Have a schedule for your daily reading and read slowly and thoughtfully.
Ask questions about how it relates to your life.
Reread and substitute your name in appropriate places addressing the passage to
God. Try this using Philippians 2:13.
Occasionally read out loud.
Record your thoughts and the verses that stand out to you in a notebook.
To Do: Select a definite time and place for your quiet time for each day of the
next week. Start with a short period of time that's comfortable for you. Try 10
to 15 minutes.