“The one who looks steadily at God’s perfect law ... and makes that law his HABIT – not listening and then forgetting, but actively putting it into practice will be happy in all that he does.”  James 1:25 (Ph)
 
1.  SELECT A SPECIFIC TIME (first thing in the morning is best for many people)

• Start with 15 minutes and let it grow.
• Don’t watch the clock!
• Emphasize quality, not quantity!

 
2.  CHOOSE A SPECIAL PLACE.
 
3.  GATHER THE RESOURCES YOU’LL NEED.

• A Bible -- with readable print.

• A Notebook – to write down things that strike you and things to pray about.

 
4.  BEGIN WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDES.

• Humility: Humble yourself before God
• Teachability: Prepare your heart to receive what God will teach you.
• Expectancy: Expect God to reveal something to you that’s relevant.

 
5.  FOLLOW A SIMPLE PLAN:

• Start by reading the Bible (5 minutes)
  Pick 3 chapters of the Bible to read for the next 30 days.  (2 Peter/ Titus/Ephesians)
  Read them out loud 3 times a day.
• Watch for something to jump out at you – When that does, even if you don’t understand why, stop there!
• Write down what jumped out and meditate on that (1) – Why did it strike you?
• Use the acronym SPACEPETS (2 minutes)
• Sin to confess? 
• Promise to claim?
• Attitude to change?
• Command to obey?
• Example to follow?
• Prayer to pray?
• Error to avoid? 
• Truth to believe?
• Something to thank god for?
• Jot down your observations in a notebook (2 minutes)
  

 
5.  PRAY (5 minutes)

• Praise Him: For who He is and what He has done
• Purpose: Commit yourself to His purposes
• Provision: Ask God to meet your needs.  Write your specific prayers down so you can remember to pray
• Pardon: Ask God to forgive you for anything wrong. 
• People: Pray for the needs of others
• Protection:  Put on the whole armor of God

 
A PRAYER OF COMMITMENT
 
“Father, I realize that I was created to have fellowship with you. Thank you for making this privilege possible through Jesus’ death. I know that daily fellowship with You is to be the most important thing in my life. I now want to commit myself to spending at least some time every day with you in a quiet time of Bible reading and prayer. I’m trusting in your strength to help me be consistent. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”