The quiet time

I first encountered Jesus in May 1983. I am so grateful to those who taught me, right from the very beginning, about the importance and priority of what they called ’the quiet time.’ The old-fashioned expression ’the quiet time’ means to set time aside every day to read the Bible and pray. The origins of ’the quiet time' probably had its origin in the words of Jesus found in Mark’s Gospel, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place” (Mark 6:31). Practically every morning since I first became a follower of Jesus, I have begun the day in this way. I try to spend time with Jesus, by myself, in a quiet place. Sometimes it is very brief, sometimes it is longer. But just as I do not like beginning the day without breakfast, I cannot imagine beginning the day without the spiritual food of God’s word and prayer. I always begin by reading the Bible, usually a Psalm or something from a Gospel, as I believe it’s more important that Jesus speaks to me than I speak to him. In the Gospel reading for this coming Sunday Jesus models ’the quiet time’ by going 'up on a mountainside by himself to pray’ (Mark 6:47). May the Lord bless you with His peace and presence in your 'quiet times.’

Arohanui Warren