How To Be Still Before God

In today’s busy world, it can be challenging to find stillness before God. However, setting aside quiet time for God each day is essential for spiritual growth. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: carve out at least 10-15 minutes daily to sit in solitude, remove distractions, and open your heart to God.

This article will provide tips on how to make the most of your quiet time.

Being still before God allows us to rest in His presence, listen to His voice, and receive renewed strength and wisdom for life’s journey. While a simple practice, it takes consistency and intentionality to cultivate a habit of daily stillness.

By prioritizing time with God and implementing some practical strategies, you can sink into His peace and experience transformation in the busyness of each day.

Choose the Right Time and Place

Find a Time That Works

Finding a regular time for stillness before God is crucial. Set aside a time when you are most alert and focused. For many, early morning before the day gets too hectic works well. Others prefer late evening when things have settled down.

Block off the time on your calendar so it becomes part of your routine.

Start with 15-20 minutes and gradually increase as your schedule allows. If your mind wanders a lot at first, begin with shorter intervals of 5-10 minutes. With practice, you’ll be able to sit for longer periods. The key is consistency. Don’t become discouraged if you miss days.

Just get back to it as soon as you can.

Pick a Quiet Spot

Look for a quiet space without distractions. This may be a corner in your bedroom, a spot outdoors, or a chair by a window. If ambient noises like traffic or children playing can’t be avoided, consider using earplugs or headphones with instrumental music.

Make your space inviting and comfortable. Have a blanket, pillow, or mat so you can sit in a way that feels relaxed but not so comfy that you fall asleep. You may want to light a candle or play some soft worship music quietly in the background.

Unplug Distractions

Put your phone on silent or airplane mode so calls, texts, and notifications don’t interrupt you. Close your computer, turn off the TV, and remove any devices, books, or magazines that could divert your attention.

Let family members know you don’t want to be disturbed except for emergencies. Put a note on your door indicating you are spending quiet time with God. Ask them to refrain from loud activities like vacuuming or watching loud shows during your scheduled time.

Prepare Your Heart

Confess Sin

Before coming before God, it is vital that we confess any known sin in our lives and ask for forgiveness. As Isaiah 59:2 (ESV) tells us, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

We cannot have true communion with God if we are harboring unconfessed sin. Take time to examine your heart and confess anything that comes to mind. God promises that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

This clears the way for us to approach Him.

Open Yourself to God

After confessing sin, open your heart to God. Surrender areas where you have been resisting Him or clinging too tightly to your own will. As James 4:8 (NIV) encourages us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Invite Him to speak to you and fill you with His Spirit.

Ask Him to show you any areas that need His healing touch. One way to physically open yourself up to God is to open your hands, palms up, as a symbol of surrender and receptivity.

Ask for Guidance

Humility and openness before God put us in a position to hear His voice and ask for guidance. As you begin your time with Him, ask God to guide your thoughts and show you what He wants you to hear. Be aware that the Holy Spirit may bring certain themes or verses to mind.

Ask God to attune your heart to what He wants to communicate. As Psalm 143:8 (NIV) expresses, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” God delights in guiding those who look to Him.

Engage in Spiritual Disciplines

Read Scripture

Reading the Bible is one of the most fundamental spiritual disciplines for Christians. Setting aside regular time each day to read God’s word allows us to hear from Him, gain wisdom for life’s circumstances, and deepen our relationship with Christ (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Some helpful tips include reading a chapter a day, using a study Bible or commentary for deeper insight, memorizing key verses, and applying what you read to your daily life.

Pray

Prayer is simply conversing with God. Having an active prayer life is crucial for connecting with God and aligning our will with His purposes. We can pray spontaneously about anything on our heart, as well as utilize helpful models like ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (Philippians 4:6).

Setting aside undistracted time to pray each day allows us to present our requests to God, intercede for others, and listen to His still, small voice.

Meditate

Biblical meditation differs from other forms of meditation in that the focus is God and His word, rather than emptying the mind. As we read a short passage of Scripture, we prayerfully reflect on and ponder its meaning, asking God to speak to us through it.

This allows the passage to take root deeply in our hearts and transforms the way we think and live (Psalm 1:2-3). It’s helpful to have a designated time and place to meditate on God’s word each day without distractions.

Listen

Listening to God involves intentionally creating space to hear from Him. We quiet our souls, presenting a receptive posture, as we ask God to speak to our hearts through His word, thoughts, dreams, promptings of the Spirit, godly counsel, and even circumstances (John 10:27).

Listening requires patience, watching expectantly for how He may choose to communicate. As we listen, we gain deeper intimacy with Him and receive His direction for our lives.

Close in Prayer and Gratitude

Drawing near to God in prayer is a privilege and blessing. As you conclude your time of stillness before Him, consider closing with a prayer of gratitude and praise. Here are some ideas for how to end your quiet time:

Reflect on God’s Attributes

Take a few minutes to reflect on God’s character based on what you read and learned about Him during your time in the Word. Praise Him for His love, grace, wisdom, power, faithfulness, and sovereignty. Thank Him for who He is and how He has revealed Himself to you.

Give Thanks

Make a list in your mind or on paper of all the blessings in your life, big and small. Thank God for each one – your family, friends, church, health, job, and salvation through Christ. Don’t take any of His gifts for granted.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Pray for Others

Ask God to bring to mind people you can pray for – friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, missionaries, government leaders, and those in need around the world. Lift them up to the Lord, asking for His mercy, grace, wisdom, healing, provision, and salvation according to their need.

Praying for others keeps our focus outward instead of inward.

Repent of Any Sin

If the Holy Spirit has revealed an area of sin in your life, confess it to God and repent. Accept His forgiveness, ask Him to help you turn from temptation, and thank Him for His mercy and grace. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Surrender Afresh

Commit your plans, relationships, job, ministry, fears, and desires to the Lord. Surrender your will to His and ask for His strength and wisdom to follow Him fully today. “Surrender your whole being to Him to be used for righteous purposes” (Romans 6:13, TPT).

Invite the Holy Spirit

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you to live for Christ throughout your day. Depend on Him to bring Scripture and truths from your quiet time to mind. Welcome His presence, wisdom, discernment, and comfort.

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Psalm 143:10).

Conclude with Scripture

Close your prayer time by reciting or singing a meaningful passage of Scripture that summarizes your praises, requests, or what God has shown you. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), Psalm 23, and the Doxology (“Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”) are a few appropriate choices.

Ending your quiet time with intentional prayer and gratitude keeps your focus on God rather than rushing off to tasks and distractions. It also reminds you of His presence, provision, and purpose throughout the day ahead. “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10).

Conclusion

Being still before God on a daily basis helps us stay centered amidst the noise and demands that pull us in many directions. As we carve out quiet time to rest in His presence, we are refreshed and strengthened to walk faithfully with Him through our days.

Start small with just 10-15 focused minutes each morning. You may find that those moments of hearing God’s voice are the most life-giving part of your day. His peace and wisdom extend far beyond our quiet time with Him into everything we do.