[Forrest]

Originally Posted by stephanos

I am very curious how everyone spends there daily time with the Lord. Mainly, I am curious what everyones Bible study time is like. When do you go the Lord in His Word? How long do you usually spend reading the Scriptures each day? What is your prayer time like? Are you consistent in all these things?

Peace and Love,
Stephen

Brother Stephen, this is a good question. Of course, everyone has their own particular way of communing with the Almighty, but like Peopleoftheway's counsel, I would humbly encourage you to avoid the bondage of a "checking-the-box" system.

What I mean is that it's certainly okay to have a specific schedule or scheduled quiet time if that's how the Holy Spirit directs you, but I want to encourage you to avoid making the "schedule" or "quiet time" the priority and focus. Sometimes, our time with the Lord becomes routine instead of relationship.

Personally, I once felt guilty if I missed my morning or evening quiet time. Often, when time was running short, I felt the pressure and the urgency to get my time in with the Lord in order to appease my conscience. I needed to "check the box" so I would feel like my duty had been done for that day. That's the point, my walk with Jesus Christ through prayer and Bible study/meditation became duty instead of delight. I left my first love. I was "doing" the right thing, but I was not "being" who I was--Christ in me, the hope of glory! We are human beings, not human doings.

Life became a quiet time when the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ truly became my life. I'm not speaking of initial salvation, I am referring to daily life, moment by moment. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18).

Please let me share an illustration. One night I was cuddling my youngest daughter before bedtime. I was going over a particular Scripture in my mind and unexpectedly spoke out loud to the Lord in prayer. Sarah asked, “Daddy, who are you talking to?”

“I’m speaking with Jesus, sweetheart.”

Curiously she asked, “How do you hear His voice?” I paused for a moment to think about her profound question. After a moment of silence, Sarah quirked, “Hmmmm, gotcha thinking there didn’t I?” After a good laugh, I returned to a more serious mood and prayed for the words to answer her probing question.

I asked Sarah if she had ever started to do something that her mother or I had told her not to do. She thought for a second and then responded, “Yes, sir.” I then asked her if the specific verse of Scripture had ever come to her mind, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). She quickly answered, “Yes, sir.” I explained that when she recalls Scripture like that, the Lord is speaking directly to her heart. “Ohhhhh,” she said with excitement, “then the Lord speaks to me all the time!”

The Lord will speak to us through His Word. I’ve often read or quoted Scripture longing for more understanding. When this happens, I simply ask, “Lord Jesus, what are You saying to me?” Then I wait. As a Good Shepherd Who promises to guide me, He will often answer my request by bringing other passages of Scripture to my mind. Try it.

These are times of sweet fellowship and intimate communion with the Lord. I suppose this is the real essence of prayer. He speaks to me (through His Word), and I speak with Him. The beautiful part of this truth is that I can actually pray anytime and anywhere. I can pray without ceasing because Christ is always present. Indeed, “…there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Prayer is simply keeping open channels of communication with the Lord.

Finally, I encourage you to hide God's Word in your heart. He will speak to you through His Word. The more you memorize, the more the Holy Spirit will bring to your mind, and you will be able to bask in the Word wherever and whenever.