Five Best Practices
This is the seventh post in an eight-part series looking at the rhythm of going to ‘a quiet place.’ I hope and pray it’s a blessing for your life in Christ!
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We’re nearly at the end of thinking together about a rhythm of going to ‘a quiet place’—so it’s time to get really practical.
Here are five best practices, to implement with wisdom and grace in your own life. I’d love to hear how it goes for you!
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1. Listen more than you speak.
In Ecclesiastes 5:1, the teacher encourages readers; ‘Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.’ When we come to God, we’re often quick to speak and to offer our prayers—yet here we’re urged to listen. I find this counterintuitive most days, but there's a deep need for us to listen and allow our souls to come to a quiet state before God, so that we might hear what we miss in the noise of our lives. In a quiet place, listen more than you speak.
2. Use a journal.
Having a notepad and a pen feels archaic, but there’s something about taking the time to write down your thoughts and prayers that allows you to process your hopes, fears, prayers, dreams and very life in a more complete way. Sometimes I take it with me and don’t use it, yet often it’s my most helpful aid as I seek to quieten my heart before God. If it’s helpful to have an example, I always ask myself one simple question: what is God doing in my life right now? And I remind myself that I’m not writing it for anyone else, so I can be as honest as I like!
3. Start small.
Begin humbly, and allow yourself grace. You can’t rush something like this, especially in the noise of our everyday lives. Showing up to meet with God matters more than how you perceive it ‘went’. Focus on the time, not the content. Read a psalm, re-read the part of Scripture that struck you the most this week. Pray lots—or ponder the mystery that God hears your prayers. There’s no formula you have to follow. The point is, don’t worry so much about what you do—but whether you do it. God is with you always.
4. Leave your phone behind.
If you’re like me, your phone is your greatest distraction. When going to a quiet place, leaving your phone behind is the most helpful decision you can make to spend time in prayer, listening to the Lord, and quieting your heart. (We’ll also look in depth at rhythms around technology in the not too distant future!)
5. Avoid an imminent deadline.
It takes time to switch off from the worries and responsibilities of life, especially if our mind is already wandering into the next appointment we have. Wherever it’s feasible, try to avoid an imminent deadline so that you can linger for a little if you need to. Again, there are no rules with this - but it’s a best practice to help you sit peacefully and quietly before the Lord!
