My Quiet Time

Wisdom from the Pen Of
Elisabeth Elliot Gren

“Having a quiet time with the Lord every day is absolutely essential if you expect to grow spiritually. But you have to plan it. It won’t ‘just happen.’ We’re all much too busy. Early morning is best, and there are plenty of scriptural precedents for that (Jesus rose ‘a great while before day’; the psalmist said, ‘In the morning shalt Thou hear my voice’). If you meet the Lord before you meet anybody else, you’ll be ‘pointed in the right direction’ for whatever comes. God knows how difficult it is for some to do this, and if you have a reason you can offer Him why early morning won’t work, I’m sure He’ll help you find another time. Sometimes the children’s afternoon nap time can be quiet time for a mother. At any rate, plan the time. Make up your mind to stick with it. Perhaps you’ll start with just fifteen minutes or so. You’ll be surprised at how soon you’ll be wanting more.

“If you’re not very familiar with the Bible you can begin with Mark, the shortest Gospel. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s teaching. Read a few verses, a paragraph or a chapter. Then ask, does this passage teach me something about: (1) God, (2) Jesus Christ, (3) the Holy Spirit, (4) myself, (5) sins to confess or avoid, (6) commands to obey, (7) what Christian love is?

“It helps me to keep a notebook. Try it. Write down some of your special prayer requests with the date. Record the answer when it comes. Note also some of the answers you’ve found to the above questions, or anything else you’ve learned. Tell your parents, siblings, your friends some of these things. That will help you to remember them. You’ll be amazed at what a difference a quiet time will make in your life.

“May the Lord make us faithful in placing ourselves in His presence, listening to His Word, and offering our prayers to Him in faith.”

In the glad service of the King,
Elisabeth Elliot
(from the June 1996 Gateway to Joy newsletter)

My Quiet Time

Dear God, I come before you now
To open up your Word.
My mind is full of scattered thoughts;
My view of you is blurred

Please help me read with open eyes
Enlightened by Thy grace.
Help me to see on every page
My lovely Saviour’s face.

                ~~~

Dear God, your Word has searched my heart;
It made me look within.
For when I saw my Saviour’s face,
I also saw my sin.

I saw the thorns upon His brow;
I saw Him crucified.
And then I saw my careless life,
My selfishness and pride.

                ~~~

Dear Lord, forgive…remold…renew
As on thy face I gaze.
Create in me Thy beauty now
In tender girlhood days.

Remove the stains that smudge and blur,
So all may clearly see
The image of your loveliness
Reflected now in me!

-Emily Hunter,
author of The Christian Charm Course

(both pieces were republished in the June 1997 YLCF Journal)