And I try to be as specific with God as possible about it.
3. Meditation in Prayer Time
The meditation phase is where I stop and do some reading and studying and, more importantly, listening and processing.
I choose a passage of Scripture—sometimes a verse, sometimes a chapter, sometimes several chapters—and I start reading. While I’m reading, I try to answer these questions…
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about me and my walk with God?
What do I need to change in order to walk in obedience to this passage?
I may also supplement this time with readings from other books, especially devotionals. A few of the devotionals I’ve used in the last few years include:
- Morning and Evening, by Charles Spurgeon
- My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
- New Morning Mercies, by Paul David Tripp
- Sparkling Gems From the Greek, by Rick Renner
- Awake My Heart, by J. Sidlow Baxter
And of course, I also subscribe to the daily emails (and I use the app) from Pastor Rick Warren’s Daily Hope!
4. Thanksgiving in Prayer Time
Thanksgiving is the essential antidote to negativity of any kind. This is where I simply answer,
What are some of the things I have to thank God for today?
5. Supplication in Prayer Time
Supplication is a fancy word for begging, or asking earnestly. One of the primary words for prayer in the Bible simply means asking. God delights in our willingness to express faith in him by asking him for things.
I answer two questions here:
What do I need to pray for in my life?
This may include God’s provision of daily bread, of financial resources, of health or wisdom or confidence. It could include certain goals I’m trying to work toward or healing for pain points in my heart.
Whom do I need to pray for around me?
I keep a list of people that I pray for daily that includes my family, my church, my friends, my civic leaders, and people with both spiritual and physical needs.
6. Declaration in Prayer Time
In this final phase of my quiet time, I take all that I’ve learned and heard from God and declare what is true.
The enemy constantly prowls around in our lives looking for ways to distract and discourage us. Truth from God is the ultimate weapon against these subtle attacks.
I believe we begin to live out what we verbally declare. I don’t mean that in any kind of mystical sense. Rather, I believe that when I affirm a truth in my mind and with my mouth, my life begins to lean in that direction.
