Quiet Time Isn’t Optional: Why Daily Time With God Matters
- Everyday Disciple
- Sep 17
- 3 min read
I don’t know about you, but my weeks can get really busy.
Between work, church, time with my girlfriend, and trying to see friends, I barely have a moment to myself. Even on my day off, I’ve got a fish tank to clean, laundry piling up, and a house that needs attention. I just want to relax—but everything feels urgent.
We live in a world that’s constantly moving.
Everywhere we look, something is fighting for our attention, screaming for our time, energy, and focus.
And with so much pulling at us, it’s easy to let priorities slip without even realizing it.
But in the middle of the chaos, there’s one thing we can’t afford to neglect:
Spending time with God.
We Need More Than Just Rest—We Need Him
God doesn’t just want your time—you actually need His.
He’s not a demanding taskmaster. He’s a loving Father who desires relationship.
He wants to restore your soul, calm your mind, and strengthen your heart.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
Even when Elijah was overwhelmed, God didn’t scold him—He gave him rest, food, and time (see 1 Kings 19:5–6).
Jesus Himself said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35), and Psalm 23 reminds us that He makes us lie down in green pastures and restores our strength (Psalm 23:2–3).
God knows you’re tired—and He invites you to be still with Him.
What Quiet Time Looks Like
Spending time with God will look a little different for everyone.
For me, it often includes:
• Dedicated prayer time
• Reading Scripture
• Listening to worship music throughout the day
For others, it might include journaling, Bible devotionals, or memorizing verses.
But no matter how you do it, here’s the key: minimize distractions and create space to be still.
There’s nothing quite like uninterrupted time in God’s presence.
Even Jesus, as busy as He was healing crowds and discipling others, made it a priority:
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” — Mark 1:35 (ESV)
And even when His alone time was interrupted (see Mark 1:36–37), He always made room for it again.
Make Time. Don’t Just “Fit It In.”
We have to be intentional. Quiet time with God doesn’t just happen—it has to be protected.
Here are a few simple shifts you can make:
• Go to bed a little earlier and wake up to spend 30 minutes in the Word.
• Take five minutes in the morning to pray over your day instead of waiting until bedtime.
• Choose worship music or Christian podcasts over songs or shows that glorify things God never intended.
“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God… Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” — Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)
God Designed You for Rest
Quiet time isn’t just a “good idea”—it’s essential.
God created the Sabbath for us, not for Himself (Mark 2:27). He designed rest to restore our bodies, minds, and hearts. Even if you don’t observe a weekly Sabbath, the principle still matters:
We need intentional, life-giving time with God.
When we recognize that we need Him more than He needs us, everything changes.
Our hearts change.
Our priorities shift.
We make space for peace, joy, strength, and direction.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” — Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)
When you spend time with God, His Spirit begins to shape your desires and renew your thinking.
A Challenge for This Week
Here’s your assignment:
Write down everything you do in a typical day.
Next to each activity, mark:
+ if it glorifies God
– if it glorifies the world
o if it’s neutral
Then pray over your list.
Ask God what He wants more of.
Ask what He wants less of.
Let Him speak into your schedule.
You don’t need to change everything overnight—but He will guide your steps.
God Speaks in the Stillness
The world is loud. God often whispers.
He’s not always heard in the chaos—but in the quiet.
Give Him the space to speak to you.
Because He loves you.
He wants to lead you.
He wants to offer you peace.
Let Him.
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