How to Start a Daily Quiet Time with God

Pastor Michael Barnett of The Bridge Church in San Marcos especially enjoys teaching people how to connect with God by having a daily quiet time. The church describes the result like this: “The result is more love, joy, peace, wisdom, purpose, abundance and freedom in their everyday lives.” That's a big promise for something that can take as little as ten minutes. This post is a practical, general how-to for anyone who has wanted to start a quiet time and never quite known where to begin.

What a quiet time is

A quiet time is a regular, set-aside stretch of time alone with God. You read a short piece of the Bible, you pray, and you pay attention. It isn't a performance, and it isn't a test of how spiritual you are. It's closer to a daily phone call with someone you love, where the goal is to be present rather than impressive.

The Bridge Church's home page includes a verse that fits the idea well: “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” That's James 4:8. A quiet time is simply the habit of coming near, on purpose, every day, instead of waiting until a crisis forces the issue.

A simple pattern to start with

Most people get stuck because they try to build a big habit on day one. Start small instead. Here is a pattern that fits into almost any schedule:

• Pick a time. Choose a slot you can protect, such as before the house wakes up, during a lunch break, or right before bed. The best time is the one you'll actually keep.
• Pick a place. A kitchen table, a porch chair, a corner of the couch. Put your phone on silent and out of reach.
• Choose a short passage. A chapter or even a few verses is plenty.
• Read it slowly, twice. The second reading is where details you missed tend to appear.
• Pray in your own words. Thank God for something, tell him what's on your mind, and ask for help with the day ahead.
• Write one or two lines. Note a verse that stood out, a question, or a prayer request.

Ten to fifteen minutes is enough. If you have more time, wonderful, but a short quiet time you keep every day will do more for you than an hour-long one you manage twice a month.

Choosing what to read

If you're new to the Bible, the Gospel of John is a popular place to begin, because it introduces Jesus directly. The Psalms are helpful when you aren't sure what to say in prayer, since they give you honest words for joy, worry and gratitude. A short letter such as Philippians is easy to finish in a couple of weeks and gives you a sense of progress.

Another option is to borrow the church's own reading list. On its home page, The Bridge ties Bible passages to each of its seven Kingdom Benefits. Philippians 4:4-9 and John 14:27 sit under peace. Proverbs 3:5 and Psalm 139:13-18 sit under guidance. Galatians 5:1 and 1 John 1:9 sit under freedom. Pick one benefit you need most this week and spend a few mornings with its passages.

Praying and listening

Prayer in a quiet time doesn't need fancy language. Many people find it helps to move through a simple order: say thanks, say sorry for anything that's weighing on you, ask for what you need, and then be quiet for a minute. That last step is the one people skip. Silence can feel awkward at first, but it's often where a thought from your reading settles in and starts to make sense.

Journaling pairs well with this. A notebook beside your Bible lets you see answers over time. A month from now, flip back through your lines and you'll likely spot patterns, such as a worry that faded or a verse that kept coming up. That is evidence of the kind of growth the church describes as more love, joy and peace in everyday life.

When you miss a day

You will miss days. A sick kid, a late night, a morning that got away from you. Don't try to make it up by doubling the reading, and don't treat it as a failure. Just pick it back up the next day at the same small size. A daily quiet time is built on returning, not on a perfect streak.

If you'd like company while you build the habit, bring it up at The Bridge Church. Since teaching people to connect with God through a daily quiet time is something Pastor Michael especially enjoys, it's a fair question to ask on a Sunday. The church meets at 10 a.m. at the Casitas Del Sol Clubhouse, 1219 E Barham Dr, San Marcos, and you can also call (760) 707-9533.