Ask any believer in the Lord Jesus whether they understand the value of God’s Word for transformation.

“God’s word is the key to successful living both here on earth and is an assurance of eternal life when we die!” Many will quip without struggle.

Now go ahead and ask if they spend time reading the Bible consistently and deliberately. The numbers will begin to dwindle significantly. Many a believer know the joy of salvation. Very few though have experienced the blessing of communing with God daily in His Word.

Because I wouldn’t want you to miss this blessing, I’d like you to get into the custom of spending time with God daily in His Word and in prayer. I even think that’s why you are reading this post. You want to get into this custom.

Now, how can you and I take in God’s Word in a way that we will experience real transformation in our lives?

Well, when I became a Christian, I soon learnt that I must read the Bible every day. At least that’s what I was told by our Christian teachers who spoke God’s Word to us. (I got born again in High School) Being a new believer and hence being eager to please the Lord, I simply did what I was told without raising questions. Three chapters or so each day led me to eventually completing the New Testament. The Old Testament wasn’t quite as easy though. I mark timed a lot!

In retrospect, I am thankful I kept at it. I may not quite remember though whether I eventually got to finishing the Old Testament at the time. Why am I sharing this? This simple reading brought change in me without my even realizing it. I hope to share a little more about this in a separate blog post.

After my university studies, God led me to join a program designed for college and campus graduates who were sensing God leading them to deeper growth in discipleship, leadership and ministry. It is through this program that I learnt to devotionally walk with God in His Word. To date, I am continuing to walk with God as I learnt then. I would later come up with these seven steps of how to have an effective Quiet Time with God.

Without much further ado, let’s dive right into the steps:

Pray:

The Bible is God’s Word. Look at these two verses for instance:

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV)

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double—edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

Only God can help you understand His Word. Only He can lead you into His truth. Only He can make His Word very personal to you, meeting you at the point of your need. He is also the one who sees right through you, knowing the kind of transformation you need. Make it your custom to pray first before you read His Word.

I personally always prepare to read God’s Word by first praying, asking God to speak to me through His Word. I have made it my custom to pray back Luke 24:45 and Psalm 119:73. I also take time to repent of any sin as I ask God to search my heart. I know sin is a huge hindrance to my hearing God in His Word. I thank Him because I know He will indeed speak to me according to Jeremiah 29:13.

Consistently read through God’s Word.

What I mean by this is that if you haven’t already started reading God’s Word, begin at Genesis and read through consistently to Revelation.

Read one to two chapters each day for a start. Trust as you read that the God to whom you have prayed is with you and that He will speak to you through His Word.

Just reading through God’s Word in itself is powerful. I know that for a fact. I hope to share this more in a later post. He is changing you whether you are aware of it or not. If you want your communion journey with God to include completing your reading of the Bible once each year, you may want to gradually increase the chapters you read to three to four each day. But remember, the main goal is not to finish reading the Bible each year; the main goal is to fellowship daily with God.

It is paramount for every believer to learn the principle of quality vis-à-vis quantity. Just as you cannot be healthy by taking I gram of thoroughly bred balanced diet, you cannot be a well-groomed frontline fruit bearing Christian by just reading a “power packed” verse a day. As you mature, you must learn to take in quality and quantity of God’s word.

Write down the Scripture or verse that seems to stand out for you:

Writing has a way of jogging your mind to think and reflect on what you are reading much more. It leads you to dig deeper to find out what God might actually be saying to you.

It is one of the ways of loving God with all your mind (Mark 12:30)

This means that buying a note book to specifically write what you are getting from God’s Word will be a key take-away for you. Never give up on writing if you find you can’t quite point out on an outstanding verse or verses. This could just happen especially on those days you might be reading passages that may be a little difficult to understand.

On the other hand, don’t necessarily ignore a thought that seems to linger in your mind concerning a Scripture you are reading. Further seeking of clarity as you reflect may point to something God may want to lead you to as you trust Him for transformation.

Its not everyday that you will come up with an outstanding insight. However, keep this in mind: you are in a relationship with God. He is the one at work in you. Keep at it whether an insight is seemingly big or small; whether your devotion time goes as you anticipated or not. Obedience in small things as well as big will be key as we will later see.

Prayerfully read again and reflect on the verse or verses you wrote down.

What do I mean by this? Talk to God; silently or out loud. Ask Him to make His word clear to you. Remember you are in communion with Him.

Ask questions!

What does God want you to do as a result of what He is leading you to reflect on?
How does He want you to live?
How does He want you to adjust your life in order to obey Him?

This was the turning point for me in my journey of transformation. Actually, after a season of walking with God this way, I could tell I was growing from point A to B as you will see in the next point.

Make a specific Application as a result of your reflections above.

Let me however make a disclaimer here: It is not every day that you will come up with a specific application. Nevertheless, make it your goal to always act in obedience whenever God speaks to you in His Word. Some insights may not necessarily lead to a practical application. They may be encouragements or exhortations to spur you on in your faith in God.

An example of a practical application was when God was teaching me humility. I remember God using the lesson on humility to teach me His will in Fasting. (Psalm 35:13, Ezra 8:21) I have long since lived to obey Him to date in Fasting consistently, by His grace and help.

Pray over the application you have made, trusting God to enable you to obey His Word.

Never assume that you can by your own strength obey God in His Word.

If I may use my example above, fasting is not a walk in the park. I have looked to God to enable me to fast, week after week. I have looked to Him for grace to obey. I must say one of the motivations to continue fasting has been what I have seen God bring about in my life in answering my prayers.

Obeying God is never in vain. It is for our good even as He receives the glory for what He does and brings about.

Trust God to get into an accountability relationship with a likeminded believer with whom you can spur each other up towards obeying God’s Word.

An accountability relationship is the kind of relationship where you will check each other up on your progress in walking with God. A large part of your engagement will be to follow through your applications to see whether you are obeying God in His Word or not.

For instance, if God spoke to you concerning forgiving a certain friend over what they did to you and this would involve engaging this friend, an accountability partner would be helpful in keeping you accountable to follow through what you said you would do. This will be critical for your formation as a noble woman.

There was a time one of my close friends was an accountability partner. During another season, it was a housemate when I was single. In recent times, my husband has played that role beautifully. Our early rising custom in order to commune with God daily for instance has been a fruit of this accountability relationship.

I pray that these seven steps will be helpful in leading you into a fruitful time of communing and fellowshipping with God devotionally. I say this from my own experience: Transformation will happen as you get renewed in your mind by God’s Word.

Remember, God’s Word is the basis for your formation as a woman of noble, virtuous character.

How to Have an Effective Quiet Time with God – 7 Simple Steps

Pray:

Consistently read through God’s Word.

Write down the Scripture or verse that seems to stand out for you:

Prayerfully read again and reflect on the verse or verses you wrote down.

Make a specific Application as a result of your reflections above.

Pray over the application you have made, trusting God to enable you to obey His Word.

Trust God to get into an accountability relationship with a likeminded believer with whom you can spur each other up towards obeying God’s Word.

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