In the Quiet...

I had a great conversation tonight with an awesome woman from church. She was telling me about a sermon that the Pastor preached a few months ago on "quiet time." Quiet time is a term that us super-trendy religious people use to refer to an allotted amount of time daily to pray and read the bible. I have to admit---I have always been an advocate of quiet time; I said I was an advocate-not a consistent participant out of sheer busyness. I strive for it, I'm not really good at it yet.

She was explaining to me that the world has determined "quiet time" as a biblical command which is not accurate according to the bible. No where in the bible does God define a good christian as someone who reads the bible daily in their quiet time. If this were true-we would live by a works based gospel. Works based gospel celebrates "doing things" in order to be a good christian and the heart focus/lifestyle of Godliness falls to the waste side.

My heart dropped an inch when I heard this. I will definitely be listening to this sermon come January when we return from Michigan and I can't wait to share the scripture to back it. It makes sense. It makes complete sense. Consider that people who write bible commentaries are some of those who will be spending eternity in hell. Just because you know the Bible doesn't hold value if you don't live the bible.

My faith is not determined by having a specific daily quiet time. I'm no better nor am I closer to God based on this "quiet time" that has evolved in the last 20 years. The life I live, the service I give for his glory, the fruit I bear, and my heart are the things that define my walk with God.

Don't for a second think that not reading the bible is justified. It's not. Do for a second consider that God wants a real relationship with you-not a quiet time/sectioned off/dutiful relationship.

Quality-not quantity.
God time-not quiet time.
Study my bible out of desire-not out of duty.