Our times with God are meant to bring us delight in the midst of distress. They should refresh, replenish, and revive us, rather than show us what rules to follow. Our times with God should teach us more about who God is rather than be used as self-help or a way to please people. When we treat our quiet times as a way to change our behavior rather than a way to have a closer relationship with God, we will either not enjoy them, will get bitter at being told what to do, or will give up under the pressure of the rules we put on ourselves. 

What we do in preparation in our times with God will help set us up for a focused and insightful time to know God better, and this includes choosing the translation that best connects and resonates with us.

Join Russ and friends as they discuss the first sections of the study "How to Have a Quiet Time," and the ability for our times with God to be powerful and transformational, as long as we keep our focus and attention on who God is.

Episode References:

• DeepSpirituality.net
• "How to Have a Quiet Time" article
• Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi talks about “flow”
• Signs movie

Scripture References:

•  Psalm 37:4 TPT
  [4] Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life, and he will provide for you what you desire the most.
• Mark 1:35 NLT
  [35] Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
• Psalm 34:18 NIV
  [18] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
• Psalm 42:1-3 NIV
  [1] As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. [2] My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? [3] My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
• Genesis 32:28 NIV
  [28] Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
• Job 42:5 NLT
  [5] I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
• Psalm 73:21-22 NIV
  [21] When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, [22] I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
• Nehemiah 8:2-3 NIV
  [2] So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. [3] He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
• Nehemiah 8:8 NIV
  [8] They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
• Hebrews 4:12 NIV
  [12] For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
• 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 NLT
  [1] Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that "we all have knowledge" about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. [2] Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much. [3] But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.