Foundations | Essential Practices of a Growing Christian Life | Session 1
Psalm 5:3
“In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly.” — Psalm 5:3
We know that physical health requires discipline. We cannot expect to become stronger simply by thinking about exercise or visiting the gym occasionally. Growth requires consistent exercise and proper nourishment.
The same principle applies to our spiritual lives.
One of the most important practices of a growing Christian life is developing a personal quiet time—a regular, intentional time set aside to meet with God through His Word and prayer.
Psalm 5:3 gives us a glimpse into David’s disciplined prayer life. He prayed regularly, approached God intentionally, and then watched expectantly for God to work. His example gives us three important principles for developing our own quiet time.
1. Quiet Times Should Be Persistent
David begins, “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice.” His prayer life was not occasional or dependent upon how he felt that day. Meeting with the Lord was an ongoing practice.
Scripture gives us many examples of people who intentionally made time to meet with God. Moses met with God on Mount Sinai. Daniel prayed three times a day. Peter went to the rooftop to pray. Even Jesus regularly withdrew from the crowds to spend time alone with His Father.
Mark 1:35 tells us that Jesus got up very early, while it was still dark, went to a deserted place, and prayed. Luke 5:16 says that He “often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.”
If Jesus intentionally made time for prayer, how much more do we need it?
Set an appointment with God.
Nearly everything important in our lives has an appointed time and place. We schedule meetings, meals, practices, appointments, and activities. Our time with God deserves that same intentionality.
Start by identifying a time for your quiet time. Morning is often ideal because it allows us to seek the Lord before the demands and distractions of the day begin. Rather than giving God our leftovers, we can give Him our firstfruits.
Think of it this way: Bible before breakfast.
A consistent morning quiet time may require preparation the night before—going to bed earlier, setting out your Bible and journal, and deciding beforehand where you will meet with God.
Then identify a place. Find somewhere quiet, secluded, well lit, and comfortable—but perhaps not so comfortable that you fall back asleep! The goal is to create an environment where you can focus your attention on the Lord.
Consistency matters. Spiritual growth is rarely the result of one extraordinary moment. More often, it develops through ordinary faithfulness practiced day after day.
2. Quiet Times Should Be Prepared
David continues, “In the morning I plead my case to you.”
The phrase translated “plead my case” carries the idea of putting something in order or arranging it. It was even used to describe preparing a sacrifice. David did not approach prayer carelessly. He ordered his prayers before the Lord as intentionally as someone would prepare an offering.
Too often, our prayers become whatever happens to cross our minds. There is certainly nothing wrong with spontaneous prayer—we should talk with God throughout the day—but a disciplined quiet time gives us an opportunity to pray thoughtfully and intentionally.
That is why having a plan can be so helpful.
Develop a prayer plan.
One simple approach is ACTS:
Adoration — Praise God for who He is.
Confession — Confess sin and ask for forgiveness.
Thanksgiving — Thank God for His blessings and faithfulness.
Supplication — Bring your needs and the needs of others before Him.
You can also use a weekly or daily prayer guide, pray through Scripture, or work through prayer lists for your family, church, Sunday School class, missionaries, community, and others God has placed on your heart.
To help you put this into practice, we have created a Weekly Prayer Journal that you can download and use during your personal quiet time. It provides a simple structure for organizing your prayers throughout the week while also giving you space to record what God is teaching you and how you see Him at work.
[Download the Weekly Prayer Journal]
Develop a Bible reading plan.
Prayer allows us to speak to God, while Scripture allows us to hear from Him. A healthy quiet time should make room for both.
Choose a Bible you can understand and a reading plan you can consistently follow. You might read through a book of the Bible, follow a yearly reading plan, use a devotional, or spend time studying your Sunday School lesson.
As you read, consider six practical questions (from Pastor Adrian Rogers’ teachings):
- Is there a promise to claim?
- Is there a lesson to learn?
- Is there a blessing to enjoy?
- Is there a command to obey?
- Is there a sin to avoid?
- Is there a new thought to carry with me?
Don’t read simply to complete a certain number of chapters. Read expecting God to use His Word to shape the way you think, live, and follow Christ.
3. Quiet Times Should Be Expectant
Psalm 5:3 ends with a beautiful phrase: “and watch expectantly.”
David prayed—and then he watched.
He believed that God heard him. He trusted that God would respond according to His will, and he looked expectantly for God’s work.
That is the posture we should bring into our quiet time.
Biblical prayer is not simply going through a list or completing a spiritual task. We come before the Lord in faith, confidence, peace, hope, and joy, trusting that He hears the prayers of His people.
Jesus repeatedly taught His followers to pray with faith. That doesn’t mean God will always answer exactly as we request or according to our timetable. It means we pray confidently because we know the character of the One to whom we are praying.
When we close our Bibles and leave our place of prayer, our quiet time isn’t really over. We should move into the day watching expectantly—looking for God’s direction, recognizing His provision, and remaining sensitive to how He may be working around us.
Make Your Quiet Time a Priority
We would never expect to become physically fit without exercising. In the same way, we should not expect to consistently grow in our relationship with Christ while neglecting the spiritual practices He has given us.
A personal quiet time does not earn God’s favor, nor is it simply another item to check off a Christian to-do list. It is an opportunity to intentionally draw near to the Lord—to hear from Him through His Word, speak with Him through prayer, and allow Him to shape our hearts.
So start simply.
Choose a time. Choose a place. Make a plan. Open God’s Word. Pray. And watch expectantly.
As we develop disciplined prayer lives individually, we can trust God to use that time not only to shape us as believers, but also to strengthen His church.
Ready to begin? Download the Weekly Prayer Journal and use it as a guide for your personal quiet time this week.
