8 Tools For Your Quiet Time
We know we’re supposed to spend time with Jesus, have a quiet time, or whatever you want to call it. But it’s hard to know where to start sometimes. This is for you.
Let me start by disarming you...
This is a safe space, a level playing field. No one knows how much or how little you read your bible, no one knows how easy or hard it is for you to want to spend time with Jesus, no one knows how much or how little you pray, no one knows that you're struggling to care. We are all here for our own personal relationships with Jesus.
But there might be a problem: we don't spend quality time with Jesus daily. Either we don't want to, or we don't know how to.
We are just surviving. We are just trying to make it from one day to the next. We're not doing great, but we're here. You feel it.
Or maybe you've got a pretty good routine down, you're finally settling in, you hear from God on a daily basis--but you want to take it further. You don't want it to get stale. You're ready to add in a little more.
There is something available for all of us, no matter how good or bad we feel about our time with Jesus.I love talking about reading God's word. I love helping others love reading God's word. So I've compiled a list of tried and true resources that can help you in your journey with Jesus and reading the bible. I hope you find something that brings a little more life to your bible reading.#1 - a good study bible
I have used the ESV Reformation Study Bible since 2011 (although I'm not reformed!), and it's been my favorite bible for daily use. I'm not ready to give it up just yet.I also own and use the ESV Study Bible and the NIV Study Bible when I'm preparing for messages.#2 - a notebook or note-taking app
I like to handwrite what I'm learning while I'm reading scripture, but more often than not, I'm typing journal entries in an app. For my notebooks, I love a Moleskin with lines. It's thin, easy to fold, and clean.For digital journaling, I've used Evernote for years until they started charging a monthly fee. I had so many notes that I couldn't keep the free version. After I tried a few other online services, I settled for Apple Notes on my computer. It's not as easy to search old entries, but it syncs across all my devices, and I can organize into folders and use tags to categorize my notes.#3 - nice pens (it matters!)
I love a really thin pen for journaling or writing bible study notes--I'm talking a .3mm ultra fine point pen. My admin assistant years ago found my dream pen: Pentel Hybrid Technica .03mm. I'm telling you, it's important. I bought two boxes of these years ago, and they've lasted forever.This is really all you need to get started, but there are some bonus resources that can come in handy...#4 - bible commentaries
There are some helpful commentaries for the average Bible reader that can take your study deeper or help answer questions you have from the text. I've always recommended Warren Wiersbe's commentaries for ease and interactivity. You can get the full 2 volume set or you can purchase each individual book of the bible from his Be Series.If you’re looking for something a little more scholarly and even multiethnic, I've been loving The New Testament In Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary. I think this will be added to the classics in the future.#5 - devotional books
If you are looking for a devotional book for Christian living that's not watered down or cheesy, I'd highly recommend Jackie Hill Perry's Upon Waking. It's 60 days of scripture and commentary written in her lyrical and convicting voice. It would make a great gift as well!A classic, but another solid devotional is My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I read this when I was 16, and I often go back to it year after year.#6 - books about God
It can be helpful to read books about God to stir our devotion to Him and enhance our bible study disciplines. One of my favorites from my seminary years is Knowing God by J.I. Packer--this is the book for you if you want to discover the wonder, the glory, and the joy of knowing God.The next book is a newer title that changed the way I see God and how I interact with Him. Every believer needs to read Gentle And Lowly by Dane Ortland to see God's heart for His people.#7 - books about spiritual disciplines
Don't let the word "discipline" scare you. These are books about how to read the bible and pray. First, Women Of The Word by Jen Wilkin. If you are wanting a breakdown of how to read your bible with practical tips, this is a great tool.Another seminary favorite is The Valley Of Vision. It's a book of Puritan prayers and devotions that will transform your prayer life if you add it into your quiet time routine.#8 - YouVersion Bible app devotions
Sometimes you don't want a book to carry around, or you have your quiet time in the car while you're picking up kids or on a break from work. The YouVersion Bible app has so many good devotions that you can access right from your phone.Here are some that I’ve done and loved:The Heart Of Man: 7-Day DevotionalRenew: Romans 8 with Timothy KellerDangerous PrayersThese are just a few of my favorite tools and resources for your time with Jesus. I hope it can help you get started spending more time in God's word.Disclaimer: I receive commissions for purchases made through links for Amazon.
