In a very big but simple theme called PRAYER, there are several subs, among which are Meditation, Contemplation, and Quiet time.
Prayer is more than ASKING GOD FOR SOMETHING
St. Bonaventure “ Prayer Includes every act of Contemplation.
Sts. Gregory Nazienzen & John Chrysostom teach that “Prayer is conversation with God”
Sts. Augustine and Damascene describe prayer as “Soul Ascending to God” Prayer is a Discourse of Soul with God. Through Prayer we speak to God and God speaks to us. It is a relationship affair. This fundamental truth distinguishes Christian (Sacred) meditations from non Christian mediation. (Don’t forget that atheists, Humanists etc meditate/Contemplate. Adherents to other religions, especially Hinduism, Lamaism and other Eastern religions practice transcendental meditations that culminate to soul travels. They commune with spiritual personalities and elemental forces some of which include those spirits that are presented in horoscopism.
Christian meditations, and contemplation, revolve around prayer, & prayer revolves around them.
Meditation /Contemplation to the ancient lovers of God/Patristic Fathers is the MYSTICAL THEOLOGY. (Ignatius, Cyprian, Chrysostom, Augustine, Hilary, Ehphrem, Gregory, Bernard, Justin, Origen, Tertullian, Athenatius, Polycarp). Difference between modern theologians is “too much theologizing, mental activity, Talk about God without talking to God, nor God talking to them.
According to Francis De Sales: “The Principal exercise of mystical theology is to speak to God and to perceive God speaking inside of us- this is the goal of meditation /contemplation & Quiet Time.
The word meditation refers to dwelling on a single thought with great attention (Ps.1:2)
Meditation involves thinking, but all thinking is not meditation.
Random thoughts are like flies in a garden, they gather no honey. No focus /concentration
Purpose of Meditation is not education, intellectual hunger and satisfaction, but Divine Encounter, Deeper Love Relationship with Divine. Vocal Prayer & Meditation (Is. 59:11)
Divine Instruction to meditate “Joshua 1:8/Heb.12:3/Ps. 119:17
Focused Meditation: When a bee flies from one flower to another it is not on a jamboree, but to purposely gather honey, loading pollen, returning to the hive, to fill a wax comb with life sustaining nourishment.
Quiet time /Alone with God/ Set-Apart/ Morning Watch/ Mountain Experience/ Desert Life, serve one purpose, according to Rev. Fr. Stephen Uche Njoku, ‘so that the eagle may obtain necessary strength with which to soar high`.
Meditation aims at life transformational event.
Quiet Time: (All through the Bible God has dropped hints about Quiet Time)
- Adam: (Gen. 3:8)
- Abraham (Gen. 19:27) As early as Abrahamic Era God taught Early Morning Quiet Time.
- It must be a daily practice.
- There must be a special place
- It must be a culture, a tradition, a way of life.
- If we must grow in grace, we need early morning Watch (Ps.5:3)
- Believers must not lie in bed waiting for the dawn. They rise early before the dawn, to awaken the dawn.
- Daniel (Dan.6:10) Dan. 10:14
- JESUS ( Is. 50 :4-5) Lk. 6 :12)
Great project can emerge from Quiet Time.
Mk. 6: 30-31-Rest from too much activity (hyperactivity)
(Beware of Hyperactivity) Martha
- PETER: (Acts 10:9-11) Peter received Revelation during Quiet Time.
Importance of Quiet Time (Fr. Njoku, “A leader who does not practice Quiet Time is dangerous to the flock)
- He lacks divine wisdom/connection with God. [There is a danger of spiritual Loggohrea/diarrhea]
- A car always on the road, no time for maintenance/Filling Station breaks down.
- Who Needs Quiet Time (All Runners In the Kingdom. Believers. All who desired deeper relationship with God. Ministers /Leaders/Servants of God.
BENEFITS OF QUIET TIME
- Spiritual Sight, divine inspiration, Direction (Is. 50:4-5)
- Wise & watchful servants. Always oil on their lamps
- Eagle strength (Is. 40:29-31) Ps. 1 (Planted by the waters) Seeing things from Jesus point of view and divine intimacy.
- Divine manifestation (Ps. 46:10)
- Rest from struggling [APLOMB]
Quiet Time is not activity. It is a lifestyle of beginning with God, dependence on HIM, peacefulness, and always waiting upon and abiding in God.
CHARACTER OF QUIET TIME DEVOTEE
- Monk/butterfly/bee attitude
- Character of life conquered by divine love
- Interior Disposition to Quietude, Placidity, etc
STRUCTURE OF QUIET TIME
- Personal Altar
- Daily Bible Guide
- Worship
- Thanksgiving
- The Word
- Quiet Time Observance
CONCLUSION
Quiet time has always been the ancient discipline of the saints. For saints across denominational boundaries the purpose and goals and results have always been the same. Ancient prophets and monks have seen in it an indispensable way of God`s dealing and love affair between God and His children. Genuine spiritual growth or resourcefulness, and intimate relationship with God cannot actually exist without the discipline of meditation and quiet time. Empty or fake life among Christians is the unfortunate results of not submitting and yielding to the disciple of meditation and quiet time. The person who could be usable in the hand of God must be a man of quiet time, otherwise he may be merely serving men and his self while thinking he is serving God.