Paul and Larry were roommates during their university studies. Larry had been watching Paul for a few months. Then he said to him: „You read your Bible joyfully every morning. And sometimes when I wake up at night, I see you kneeling by your bed praying for someone. Tell me, how do you do that?“

„Larry, God is helping me with this. If you want to know how this happens, take the following test. I suggest that you read the Bible and pray for 15 minutes every day for a fortnight. Then something significant will happen in your life. I know this is true because there is a promise from God in James 4:8: „Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.“

When we take a small step towards God, he takes a big step towards us. And it's fun to try it out.

If nothing happens in these two weeks, then forget about faith, because God has not kept his promise. Then you don't need to serve him. Because then he is simply too small. If you come to him, then he will come to you according to his promise.‘

Larry replied. „Well, I'll give it a try and then I'll see what happens.” The next morning he got up a quarter of an hour earlier and read the Bible. After a week, Larry said to Paul: „Half the time has already passed. If nothing happens in the next week, I can throw my Bible away, because you and God are liars.“ A few days later, Larry said, „Paul, three more days and the fortnight will be up. I've been praying and reading the Bible for 15 minutes every day and nothing has happened yet.“ - „Now it will only take one more day and then the two weeks will be over.“ The last day approached. Two weeks had passed. Larry said nothing. He got up the next day and read the Bible. He did the same the day after that: he didn't say a word about his request for a whole week. But he had continued to read the Bible the whole time. One morning, as Paul was doing his devotions, Larry said to him: „You know my two weeks are up. This is what I've experienced in the last few days: I can no longer live without God.“

Living with God

Anyone who has found a personal relationship with God does not want to go through life without God.

We simply can't and don't want that anymore. Life is full of disappointment, guilt and stress when we don't have God. I hope that you make the same discovery as Larry. If you are not completely sure of your salvation, if your life with God is not what it should be, then try it out for a fortnight: Keep at least 15 minutes a day of intense contact with God. Start building a personal relationship with God. Focus especially on the power of the Holy Spirit. [From Paul Volk's lecture series in Nuremberg „Being a Christian“, topic 11]

Quiet time is the most important part of the day for followers of Jesus. If you spend a certain amount of time with God every day, you will notice that your thinking and life will undergo a positive change:

• The word of God will become meaningful for you
• Your prayer life will become more lively and purposeful
• You will have higher goals for your life
• In difficult times, you will have a secure and stable foundation
• Jesus Christ will become more and more familiar and dear to you

Choose the most favourable time of day for you. The quietest time of the day is best suited for this. This is usually the morning hours. At this time, our thoughts are still fresh and receptive.

When you start the day with God, you have the opportunity to place the day ahead of you under God's guidance and consecrate yourself to him for this day.

May I suggest that you reserve the time you have chosen just for your „quiet time“ and prioritise it over everything else. It will pay off.

How do you organise a devotional time?

Say a prayer of consecration!  It could read something like this:

Prayer
„Great God, I consecrate myself to you for this day with all that I am and have. Please give me Your guidance through the Holy Spirit. And guide me now in my thoughts as I read Your Word. Thank you so much for that. Amen.“

Read a short passage in the Word of God and think about it: The enclosed introductory questions will help you get off to a good start. Questions help you to delve deeper into the topic of the passage. Jesus compares the Word of God to food without which we cannot live (Mt 4:4). The more you fill your thoughts with the Word of God, the more you will learn to think and act in the spirit of God in the various situations of your life.

How do I find the relevant Bible passages?

Every Bible has a table of contents for the Old Testament (OT) at the front and one for the New Testament (NT) quite far back. You will find the suggested passages from Psalms, Joshua and Isaiah in the OT, Luke and Romans in the NT.

Is there a tried and tested aid for effective reflection?

• Yes, answer the two questions in writing, preferably in your own words. But don't make it too long. Only 1-2 main thoughts, 3-4 lines per question should be the maximum. This „forces“ us to think. Do you want to give it a try? For a few days there is a corresponding scheme attached. You can copy it or simply transfer it to a notebook. It can also be printed out from „www.missionsbrief.de/Jüngerschaft/Tagebuch zur Stillen Zeit“.
• Think about the content of what you have read and consider what God wants to say to you with this text. But remember that you won't understand everything straight away. Don't let this discourage you. God will make the things he wants to say clear to you.
• Try to pass on something of what God has shown you in the „quiet time“ to another person every day. This can be beneficial for both you and the other person.

Conclusion of the prayer

I recommend a concluding time of prayer in which you bring your thoughts about what you have read and your intentions for the day before God. If you have made progress in your faith, then it is valuable if it contains worship, thanksgiving, confession, petition and intercession.

I sincerely wish you a fulfilled life of faith and an intimate personal relationship with God.

Personal application
What does this Bible passage mean for my life?
What conclusion do I draw for myself?

Day 2: Psalm 1:1-6
I can be blessed when I ...

Day 3: Joshua 1:6-9
What commands are given? What is promised?

Day 4: Luke 19:1-10
What did Zacchaeus want to do after he became a believer? Why did Jesus come?

Day 5: Isaiah 43:1-5
What promises does God give us here?

Day 6: Isaiah 53:4-6
What would happen to Jesus and for whom?

Day 7: Luke 15:11-24
What was the result of the younger son's actions? What was the father's attitude?

Day 8: Psalm 25:1-7
What does David ask of God?

Day 9: Psalm 25:8-15
What is promised to the godly?

Day 10: Psalm 91:1-7
What is God for the believer?

Day 11: Psalm 91:8-16
What does God want to do for those who love, know and call on him?

Day 12: Psalm 92:1-8
What is good to do? Why?

Day 13: Psalm 92:9-16
How is the righteous described?

Day 14: Romans 8:31-39
What can separate us from the love of God? In whom lies our strength to be able to stand above all things?