22 January, 2004 3:25 AM
Blogathon - Entry 109
Andy asks — 'Quiet times is something I think every Christian struggles with at some stage, but keeping close to God is one of the most important part of being a Christian...
When do you make the time? What do you do? How long for? How do you keep it fresh? What if any materials do you use? Where do you get them from? How do you keep yourself disciplined? Do you ever have lapse's?
I always struggled with having quiet times, that was until I decided to stop having them. Let me explain...
I know I've just said the unthinkable for many Christians but I just found that after years of guilt building up after committing to have them and then failing to do so was too much. I got to a point where I realised that a relationship with Jesus was so much more than setting aside a few minutes to spend with him a day. So I stopped having them.
Having said that — I do pray and I do read Scripture. In fact I do it most days in some form or another. I try to mix things up. I don't respond to routine too well. Rather some days I pray while I go for a walk. Other days I write my prayers or even write out Scripture. Sometimes I try to memorise verses.
I find some of the ancient methods of prayer helpful but also like to find and design new ways also.
I also like to read books from time to time. Not just to get information but to pray through them. I reflect upon them as I read.
From time to time I set aside half a day or even a full day to go meditate. The beach is good for this.
I don't have the magical answer as to how to bring it alive. Having said all of the above I find that there are periods where it all seems to 'click' and come together — yet there are other times when I struggle to connect at all.
I'm interested in others experiences — what have you found helpful?
Comments
Page:
Hey Darren, just popped in again to see how you were doing.
Yes I gave up the guilt trip about quiet times as I tend to be unstructured myself. So my experience is very similar to yours.
I have found that I have nevertheless developed some ...er...weird...habits without thinking about them. For example, I drive to work and always pray while I drive - I pass by certain trees (!) on the way which I have associated with certain people and use them to remind me to pray for them. People watching me from other cars would think I was nuts. I have other similar quirks if I have to fly interstate for the day or week but I still kind of miss my morning driving routine. Do you have any of those?
Sunday afternoon walks on the beach praying were also a habit until illness and injury disrupted that routine. And I am only recovering it now.
I have also recently begun learning to pray the psalms and use some of the daily office several times a week. I never thought I would subscribe to 'canned prayers' but that has come about as I looked at the psalms seriously for the first time in my life after a few conversations with a pastor piqued my curiousity about a few things and also because of my own interest in Benedictine monasticism. This has been very rewarding for me (I am such a s-l-o-o-w learner)
Recently I started blogging a fairly basic book on the theology of prayer... and plan to blog a few on the topic from different Christian traditions (although I have not really 'advertised' this blog or moved all my draft posts to publish yet so it is a bit sparse, the blog is here: http://dogfightatbankstown.typepad.com/on_prayer)
I am finding this really useful as it forces me to stop and think a bit more as I read. Blogging a book is good!
I still use personal diaries and notebooks for my own scripture reading and I doubt very much that anyone else will get to see them apart from me and God. *grin*.
Oh yes, I don't have kids and rarely watch TV. So this replaces some of my 'quality time with kids' and 'relax' time. I sometimes feel guilty about that.
saint » 22 January, 2004 4:03 AM