Psalm 119:15-16 “I will meditate on Your precepts and think
about Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”
When I was 13, my 8th grade Sunday School teacher taught our
class how to have a daily quiet time with God. This included time for Bible
reading, prayer and then reflection on what we read. She gave personal
testimony of how her own daily quiet time gave her strength for the day and
often helped her find answers for problems she was facing. She assured us that
this was the normal way all Christians started their day.
It made sense to me so I decided to start having a daily
quiet time as well. Like my 8th grade Sunday School teacher, I can testify that
it has sustained me through many challenges in my life. I am thankful for a
Sunday School teacher who taught me something so simple and yet so life
changing.
The one thing that my Sunday School teacher taught us that turned
out to be incorrect, was that this was the normal way all Christians started
their day. I am sure she thought it was an accurate statement, but after nearly
25 years of ministry, it becomes clear to me that many Christians skip this
important part of their day. This is reflected by the lack of biblical
knowledge that even those who have been Christians for decades have. It is
reflected by how we interact with each other as Christians in daily life. It is
reflected in our conversations with each other, which are about so many things,
but seldom about what the Lord is showing us in scripture. It is reflected in
the lack of holy passion in our corporate worship, which can only come from a
strong time of private worship.
If we want revival to come to America again, perhaps we
might return to a simple lesson we learned in Sunday School so long ago, let us
start each day with a daily quiet time. A few minutes of Bible reading, prayer
and reflection can change our lives. If millions of lives are changed a little each
day, that impacts the broader church, indeed, it impacts the broader culture.
Lord, call us back to simply spending time with You each
day! Amen.
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Dr. Terry W. Dorsett has been a pastor, church planter, denominational leader and author in New England for more than 20 years. He is a happy husband, a proud father and adoring grandfather. He is a cancer survivor and believes that God works powerfully through times of suffering. He writes extensively and you can find all of his books at:
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