Community of Hope

Blog

Jan 04

2010

Unlocking Your Faith

We are currently in a message series that we're calling "Unlocking Your Faith." During this series, COHers and any others interested are being challenged to enter into a daily quiet time for the next 30 days. For some it will be the first time they've ever attempted an intentional quiet time. Below is a quideline that may help you get it kicked started.

Unlocking Your Faith Guided Quiet Time

This is an opportunity for you to spend some time alone with God. Commit yourself to follow these nine steps DAILY, for the next 30 days. Most people report that they do not experience God’s presence fully during their first three or four days as they do after several days of practice. Be persistent. If you miss a day, don’t give up. Pick up where you left off and press on. In preparation, set aside fifteen minutes in a location where you can be physically relaxed and there is little likelihood of interruption. Read the Bible, listening for what God says to you. Each week you will have different scriptures from the Bible that may be helpful in preparing you. This helps to erase distracting thoughts from the blackboard of your mind. Here are some scripture passages for this week.

You are encouraged to read these verses throughout the week. Psalms 5:3; Psalms 34:9; Psalms 119:11; Philippians 4:8; Hebrews 10:23 Psalms 42:11; Hebrews 12:10; Psalms 91:14

Close your eyes and give thanks for three personal blessings of which you are especially conscious today. This helps you move toward God by moving away from a sense of your own self-sufficiency.
Ask God to help three other persons who you feel need God’s help today.
Ask God to forgive your mistakes and sins and give you the strength to forgive others.
Ask God to help one person whom you find it hard to like. Ask God to give that person insights into his or her personal problems and ask for the power to let God’s love flow through you to him or her.
Ask that you will be sensitive to the needs of one person today with whom you can share God’s love in word or deed.
Ask for insights into your personal problems.
Ask for help in achieving your personal goals.
Ask that God will tell you the most important thing you need to do today in order to “seek first His kingdom” (Matthew 6:33).
Conclude by listening intently for three minutes to what God may want to say to you.