Dr. Thomas' Quiet Time

My best quiet time with God is early in the morning. I rise usually at 4AM three or four mornings a week. I put on my sweats and tennis shoes and walk five times around my neighborhood. I pray and exercise at the same time.

The air is cool and quiet. There is little traffic, almost no dogs barking, and I can really open myself up to God's presence. I ask Him questions; I give Him issues which bother me; I ask HIm for help; I praise Him and thank HIm for being with me and answering my prayers.

I don't approach God with my mind made up about things. I try to be truly open with HIm and then remain open to Him until He gives me an answer. Occasionally the answer will come while I am out walking that morning. More often, it will come later.

I open myself up to Him that way three times a week in the weight room. I lift weights and open my mind and heart to what God may want to say to me. I also converse with Him there as I do in the morning. You know what? I have had some pretty phenomenal experiences with God at those times and in those places.

A second part of my spending more time with God consists of reading the Bible. I set aside time each day to read a portion of scripture. You can choose from any number of Bible reading plans. I made up my own. I start with Genesis 1 and read three chapters a day until I read through the Bible. It takes a little more than a year. Then I start over again. While I am reading, I have a pad and a pen. I write down a summary of what He is saying in the three chapters I have just read. Then I write down reflections in a paragraph which I call Journal.

A third part of my spending more time with God consists of reading devotional literature. I try to read a variety of devotional literature. Some comes from the mission field and consists of a prayer letter which I receive from missionaries in Colombia, South America. I subscribe to a devotional journal called WEAVINGS, which is published by the Upper Room. I have read a variety of more popular devotional authors such as Max Lucado, Frederick Buechner, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Swindoll. I have a devotional book on the Psalms right now which was written by Eugene Peterson.

Then there is a huge reservoir of older, more classical devotional literature which has been most helpful over the years. Examples these materials are CONFESSIONS by St. Augustine; DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL by John of the Cross; PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD by Brother Lawrence; and SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN by Thomas Merton. You may find some of these books HERE.

Sometimes a prayer partner can make a great difference. You need someone with whom you can share what the Lord reveals and check it out with this other person. You can share insights with each other and pray together. On occasion a spiritual retreat to a quiet place where you can spend uninterrupted time in meditation and prayer and under the guidance of a spiritual director will be quite helpful. Now, I don't know where you are or from whence you are coming in your spiritual life.

Just email me if you would like to open a conversation about this and possibly other subjects.

Dr. Frank H. Thomas, Pastor

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