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The Importance of a Daily Quiet Time

11/1/2021

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​God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46: 1, 10 (NKJV)
 
Godly, effective associational leaders are spiritual leaders, walking with the Lord in His Word and in prayer daily. They are feeding themselves, dependent on and trusting in the Lord, His Word, and His Spirit more than they lean on their own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6).

While there are many ways to accomplish this result, let me share what has worked well for me for a number of years.
 
I start my day before sunrise by having a Quiet Time in God’s Word and in prayer. I read/study/meditate through books of the Bible alternating between the Old and New Testaments. I usually read the entire chapter in a book daily as I make my way verse by verse through the chapter. As I come to the next verse in a chapter, I pray about it and often utilize helpful Study Bibles such as the CSB, ESV, Worldview, MacArthur, and Spurgeon Study Bibles. I alternate using them, though some days I will actually refer to each one the same day to learn different insights about a passage. 
 
I then write down scriptural insight, prayer, and application in my quarterly Spiritual Journal from International Evangelism Association, Saledo, TX. I was introduced to the Spiritual Journal forty years ago at Southwestern Seminary, and I have been using it ever since. One can record prayer requests, scriptural insights, personal applications, and memory verses, plus there is a notetaking section for notetaking during sermons and Bible studies, a Bible reading schedule, a place to record witnessing opportunities and personal ministry activities each month, and 50 Scripture Memory Verses listed by topic. 
 
After I have spent time in God’s Word, I then use the Intercession pages in the Spiritual Journal where I have listed prayer requests. In the daily section I pray for immediate family members, the President of the US, the President of the SBC, and others. I also pray Adoration, Confession, Petition, Thanksgiving to the Lord daily. There is also an intercession section for each day of the week, so each day of the week I pray for someone in various categories I have developed: Evangelists/Missionaries, Family/Friends, Ministries, Health/Healing, Salvation/Sanctification, Government Leaders, and Special Requests.  The Spiritual Journal is very inexpensive - only $3.00 per quarter. If you are interested in ordering this quarterly devotional system, go to www.disciple-maker.org.
 
If the Spiritual Journal is not for you, another devotional system I recommend is Robby Gallaty’s HEAR plan: Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond to the Scripture you read each day. For more information, get a copy of his excellent book, Growing Up: How to Be a Disciple Who Makes Disciples. For more information, check out www.replicateministries.org. 
 
The main thing is to spend time each day in God’s Word and in communion with the Lord. 
 
Your brother in Christ,
 
Ray 
 
Pr. 3:5-6
 
Quotable Quote: For Christians, our most important lens is Scripture, not politics. Collin Hansen, 10.11.21, TGC: Only the Gospel Can Keep the Church Together
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    I’m Ray Gentry, the President/CEO of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL). I’ve served Southern Baptist churches & associations in various roles for over 35 years. I have served as an associational leader for five associations, starting in 1993. The most recent one being the Southside Baptist Network, McDonough, GA.

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