Quiet Times

‘One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.’  Luke 6:12-13
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Do you have a daily Quite Time (QT)? Most Christians try and make time each day to be alone with the Lord. The problem is that much of what goes under the heading of Quite Time is religious and not relational.
The idea is to draw apart from the business of our family and work day to communicate with God. Jesus did this often and it is therefore an excellent practice. But what takes place during the QT? 

Daily reading and devotionals are fine if they serve as an aid to real communication between us and God.  However, for many people the ‘Faith for Today’ type devotionals have become a substitute for communication. There is a mentality that a verse a day will keep the devil at bay, or that someone else devotional thoughts become mine simply because I read them. This is religious.

When we meet privately with God we should read the Bible conversationally, praying and reading simultaneously. When we pray it should not be according to a template of first thanksgiving, then intercession, and then petition. Rather, we should talk to God as humble but loving children, expressing our hearts with honesty and transparency. 

A QT that consists of a daily reading and a prayer list is religious… sorry but that’s how I see it. How about you? What do you think?

[Technical note to reader: If you would like to comment, simply click on the hyperlink below that says ‘X Comments’, a new page will open where you will be able to write your comment]

Christopher Peppler

Christopher Peppler

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3 thoughts on “Quiet Times”

  1. Hi Jonathan, I have found that the best way is to encourage through personal witness. Share with her naturally what you receive from God when you spend time with Him. Comment with enthusiasm on the wonderful Gospel accounts of what Jesus said and did. Pray for her a lot. God bless you both.

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About Me

My name is Christopher Peppler and I was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1947. While working in the financial sector I achieved a number of business qualifications from the Institute of Bankers, Damelin Management School, and The University of the Witwatersrand Business School. After over 20 years as a banker, I followed God’s calling and joined the ministry full time. After becoming a pastor of what is now a quite considerable church, I  earned an undergraduate theological qualification from the Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa and post-graduate degrees from two United States institutions. I was also awarded the Doctor of Theology in Systematic Theology from the University of Zululand in 2000.

Four years before that I established the South African Theological Seminary (SATS), which today is represented in over 70 countries and has more than 2 500 active students enrolled with it. I presently play an role supervising Masters and Doctoral students.

I am a passionate champion of the Christocentric or Christ-centred Principle, an approach to biblical interpretation and theological construction that emphasises the centrality of Jesus

I have been happily married to Patricia since the age of 20, have two children, Lance and Karen, a daughter-in-law Tracey, and granddaughters Jessica and Kirsten. I have now retired from both church and seminary leadership and devote my time to writing, discipling, and the classical guitar.

If you would like to read my testimony to Jesus then click HERE.