After a couple of sips of Starbucks Columbian coffee with three scoops of sugar and toasted almond non-dairy creamer, I’m awake and ready to start my quiet time. If you’ve read Kristin’s and Janelle’s posts it probably won’t shock you that I begin by reading a meditation from Morning and Evening. Charles Spurgeon’s grasp of the gospel, passion for holiness, and beautiful prose make him, I think, my favorite author of all time.
Currently, I am studying the joyful book of Philippians. After several years of read-through-the-Bible plans (I was always on my own unique two-year plan), I wanted to spend time digging more deeply into a specific part of Scripture. For my study I am using commentaries by J.A. Motyer, James Montgomery Boice, and my favorite, D.A. Carson.
This morning I read the following comments on Philippians 1:9-11:
“And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
“Our obedience, discipline and hard graft are not insignificant or optional. On the contrary, they are the God-intended context for growth. But something else energizes the growth till the fruit is ready for harvest: all is done through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (verse 11)….In this setting the daily task of obedience remains hard, but not fruitless. We are often neglectful, frequently failing, ever inadequate; yet the end is secure, for God is at work.” --J.A. Motyer
J.A. Motyer, The Message of Philippians, (Downers Grover, Ill: Inter-Varsity Press, 1984), 60-61.
I have much need to grow in prayer, however, I try to collect prayers from others and use verses of Scripture to help me pray in a more God-centered way. Hebrews 13:20-21 is a favorite that I used today.
Also, I’ve been journaling differently the past six months or so. Instead of hand-writing the verses, quotes, thoughts, and prayers from my quiet time into an actual journal, I’ve been entering them in a WORD file on my Mac under specific categories (e.g. The Gospel, Unbelief, Self-Righteousness, etc.). So, for example, if I am tempted to fear in a particular situation, I type all the verses and quotes I read under the "fear" category. That way, the truths that provided me conviction and encouragement are easy to find the next time that I am tempted. This method may not be as artistic as using a felt-tip pen to write in a leather-bound volume, but it is intensely practical.
Finally, I must make a worship recommendation. For some time I have been listening to "Redemption Songs" by Jars of Clay in my quiet time. The words to this collection of hymns have lifted my gaze to Christ. So I’ll close with some of my favorite lines:
"O love of God O sin of man
In this dread act your strength is tried
And victory remains with love
Jesus our Lord is crucified."
