"Just Jesus And Me:  Quiet Times for Busy Christians"

INTRODUCTION:
Welcome, seeker!  Whether you are new to the concept of "quiet times" with God or a seasoned prayer warrior, we all come to God as seekers.  It does not matter how long a person has been a Christian--all of us need to seek His guidance, wisdom and strength.  But because of our busyness and daily activities, we often find it difficult to spend time completely alone with God on a regular basis.

This brings us to the purpose of this little book--to help us slow down our lives enough to spend some time alone with our Creator.  When we make the time to do these exercises, one each day on a regular basis, significant spiritual changes can occur within us.  The daily devotions themselves aren't anything special--it's the time we spend with God and the way we interact with Him that will make the difference.  So, use this book as an aide but do not rely on it's contents--rely on God who will interact with you through His Word and the Holy Spirit.

Some guidelines to help you:  
* Find a place where you will be alone without distractions (TV, computer, stereo, CD player).  
* It's easier if you can find a time slot that you can set aside each day for your quiet times (for example, just before going to bed or after your breakfast).  
* Make your quiet times a priority by making it an appointment in your daily schedule (if someone tries to schedule something else during your normal quiet time, you can say "I'm sorry, but I have another appointment" and schedule a different time).
* By all means, solicit others to encourage you to keep having your quiet times (send e-mails or make a phone call asking "how was your quiet time today?")
* If you already spend time in prayer on a regular basis, this book is meant to be a supplement to your normal prayer time.  You can do the quiet time in the book first and then pray as you normally do afterwards.  (One example is the AWCIPA prayer that I've been using.  See AWCIPA book for more details.)
* Important:  Don't get discouraged.  Keep at it as best as you can.  ANY time you spend with God each week is better than nothing at all.

I will be praying for you!

DAY 1:  The Prayer of the Busy Christian
Mark 1:35-37 - Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"

Imagine that you will be spending an entire day completely alone.  What kind of feelings would you have? 

What would you miss?

What would you NOT miss?

Read Mark 1:35-37.
Why do you think Jesus left the house "very early in the morning, while it was still dark?"  (Couldn't He have just prayed in the house?)

If Jesus had asked you to leave your house at that hour of the morning and walk with Him to a "solitary place", how would you have felt? 

While you sit here doing this quiet time, there are many other things you could be doing with your time.  When Jesus was spending time alone,  went looking for Him and exclaimed, "Everyone is looking for you!"  What other things could Jesus have done for people instead of praying alone? 

Why didn't Jesus attend to the others first before going off to a solitary place? 

There are many things that could keep us busy in our daily lives, and God is aware of them.  The busyness may not never go away, but that didn't stop Jesus from spending time in alone in prayer.  Take some time right now to tell God about all of the things that tend keep you busy.  Then, then ask Him to help you make more time to spend alone with Him.  Continue to pray including elements of praise, thanksgiving, confession, 
and making specific requests.  

DAY 2:  Am I Too Busy?

How tired do you normally feel at the end of a day?  How tired do you feel each morning when you wake up?

Has fatigue ever been a factor in determining how much time you spend in prayer?  

Read Luke 10:38-41.
If Jesus came to your house to visit you, would you be a bit more distracted or a bit more attentive?

What caused Martha to be distracted (v. 40)?

What bothered her about her sister Mary?

Jesus told Martha that she was "worried and upset about many things."  What kind of things sometimes worry and upset you?

What seemed to be important to Mary?

How often do you spend time "listening" to what the Lord tells you through His Word and through prayer?

In verse 42, Jesus said that "Mary has chosen what is better."  How  could doing nothing but listening to Jesus be better than focusing on doing a lot of good for other people?

Do you tend to be more of a person who does things first before listening or a person who listens first before doing anything?

Spend some time in prayer listening to God speak to you through this passage.  Ask God to help you focus more on listening and focus less on our daily list of worries. 

DAY 3, Knowing What You're Worth
What is your most valuable earthly possession (in terms of dollar amount)?

How would you feel if this item were lost or destroyed?

Read Matthew 6:25-34.  
How much time does the average adult spend working each week so that they may have food, shelter and clothing for themselves and their families?

In this passage, is Jesus saying that we should not work for a living?

How would you describe the difference between a person who "worries about his life" (v. 25) and a person who simply provides for his family's needs?  

What point is Jesus making about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field?  How do they relate to our own lives?

When we worry about these things, what are we essentially revealing about our relationship with God (v. 30)?

What does Jesus encourage us to do instead of worry about our lives? (v. 33)  How do we do this?

Throughout this passage, what is God revealing about how much we're worth to Him (v. 26)? 

Why does God not want us to worry about tomorrow (v. 34)?

Spend some time in prayer thanking God for valuing you more than the "birds of the air" and the "lilies of the field."  Because we know that God cares for us, ask God to help you to worry less and seek to do His will more.

DAY 4:  Approaching God with Confidence

Write five words or phrases that would describe your father as you were growing up?

How would you describe your relationship with your father when you were a child?

What are some words that you would use to describe Jesus?

Read Hebrews 4:14-16
In verse 14, Jesus is described as a "great high priest."  What are some of the qualifications that you would think might be required in order for someone to become a "high priest", "pope", or some other kind of religious leader?

According to verse 14, what qualifies Jesus to be our high priest?

According to verse 15, what makes Jesus uniquely able to relate to you as a human being?

What kinds of temptations have you faced in your life?

Generally speaking, in what ways has Jesus been tempted?

Since we know how well Jesus understands our weaknesses and the temptations we face, is this more likely to make you want to avoid Jesus or to draw near to Him?  Why?

How does the author of this passage want us to approach God's throne?  Why?

Do you envision God to be an unforgiving Judge, or a merciful and understanding Shepherd?

Spend some time in prayer telling God the kinds of words you would use to describe Him.  Approach Him with confidence that He understands you even better than you understand yourself.  Confess your faults, weaknesses and temptations and receive His awesome mercy and grace.  Ask God for help in your battle against temptation and thank Him for being the kind of God He is.

DAY 5:  Living In The World With Confidence
2 Timothy 1:6-7
Would you describe yourself basically as an introvert (quieter personality) or an extrovert (outgoing personality)?

Can a person be an introvert and still have self-confidence?  Can an extrovert have low self-confidence?

Read 2 Timothy 1:6-7
A "flame" is often used as a symbol for passion and devotion.  What do you think this passage means when it tells us to "fan into flame" the spiritual gift (abilities, talents) God has given you?

How would you define the word "timid" (use a dictionary if you prefer)?

Instead of a "spirit of timidity", what kind of spirit does God give us?

How would you describe God's power?

How would you describe God's love?  (What are some characteristics of His love?)

In what ways can a person show self-discipline?

How can God's "power, love and self-discipline" help us overcome our timidity?   

Spend some time in prayer thanking God for His power, love and for His discipline.  Ask Him to help you overcome your timidity that may be preventing you from serving God with confidence.

DAY 6:  The Prayer of the Middle Class Christian
Proverbs 30:7-9 - "Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
    do not refuse me before I die:

   Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.

   Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
    and say, `Who is the LORD?'
  Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God.

In your opinion, what are the "basic necessities" of life?

In most cases when people pray, they ask God for something.  In this case, the author of this passage (Agur son of Jakeh) is asking God not to give him something.  What two things does he not want God to give him (v.8)?

Why does he ask not to be in poverty (see verse 9)?

How many people do you know would specifically ask God, "Please, don't make me rich"?

Why does the author of this passage ask not to have riches (v. 9)?  

How might being wealthy cause someone to "disown" God?

What does the author of this passage ask for instead (v. 8)?

Has God sufficiently given you your "daily bread"?  Are you content with what He has given you?  Why or why not?

In what situations have you been tempted to "disown" or to "dishonor" (v. 9) the Lord?

Pray that you would be content with what God has given you.  Ask God to give you neither too much nor too little, because your relationship with Him is far more important.

DAY 7:  Time to Get Out of the Boat
Matthew 14:23-32 - "After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.  

    MT 14:27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

    MT 14:28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

    MT 14:29 "Come," he said.
    Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

    MT 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

    MT 14:32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down."

Do you believe that Jesus really walked on the water or that this was just an exaggerated story?  Why?

If Jesus could truly defy the laws of physics by walking on water, what does that say about His power? 

Do you think that God's power is limited by our own weaknesses or limitations?

Peter had a limitation:  He could not walk on water.  But somehow, he was able to do it.  How was was that possible?

While walking on the water, what caused Peter to begin to sink?

Similar to Peter, what do we need in order to overcome our weaknesses, failures and limitations as we strive to accomplish whatever God wants us to accomplish?

Walking on water was an impossible task that God enabled Peter to accomplish.  There are some things that God might want you to do for His kingdom, but you do not attempt them because you believe it would be nearly "impossible" to accomplish.  What are some things God might want you to accomplish for Him (ignoring how difficult or impossible they might seem)?

Pray that you, like Peter, would be able to start taking practical steps toward doing "impossible" things for His kingdom.