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How to enrich your quiet time with God

 A few years ago, when I was praying with my husband he gently led me to listen to my own prayers. 

Julius was a scientist, not a linguist. He spoke to the point but when he prayed, he prayed God's attributes. He sought after God daily and God blessed him with a deep knowledge of His Character and His attributes. 

My prayers on the other hand were lengthy, wordy and often a long laundry list. I was always very grateful for the many blessings that God had given me and I thanked Him. He had given me a wonderful husband, a strong marriage, financial stability, a beautiful warm home, 2 precious girls who are following the Lord, a strong ministry in the church, a home small group that was growing in numbers and maturity etc etc.

At about the same time I was privileged to attend a seminar on Quiet time at Bible Study Fellowship  and these 2 events changed my prayer life in a very significant way. It was God Almighty preparing me for this tragedy.

I began to learn to praise and worship God for who He is in the Word and not only for the blessings He was giving me or for answering my prayer requests. 

On May 7, 2013 when Julius said goodbye at the door presumably going to work, we had no idea he would be in heaven in a short few hours.

What a difference a day and distracted driver who made an incorrect lane change can make.

In one day I lost so many of the blessings that I was thanking God for - my husband, my marriage, my status as a wife, my small group and on and on.

If I did not know that God was sovereign and faithful and trustworthy and that He is Lord over all, I would not know how I could have survived.

Today I had the privilege of co-leading a short seminar on how to pray the attributes of God to the women of our church. 

Dear reader, if you are reading this, I pray that you would understand the key difference between praising God for who He is and for His Character and thanking Him for the gifts and blessings He gives you. That you will learn to worship the Creator and not His Creation.

These simple steps might help you as they helped me:

Step 1: Make a list of God’s attributes
·         Read a passage of Scripture – (the Psalms are a great place to start) and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal an attribute of God to you.
·         As you read the passage make a list of the names or attributes of God - like Redeemer, Comforter, Healer, Saviour, Strong Tower, Holy One. Start making a list in your journal. Write the verses next to the attributes so you can go back to them.
·         For example: Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. There are 2 attributes here: Shepherd and Provider.
  
Step 2: Use God’s Attributes to worship God
·         Read the verses of that attribute back to God. Praise Him for His Character. Learn to praise God for who He is.
·         Choose the one or more attributes that speak to you the most in the season of life that you find yourself in today. Your worship will be the truth about God and not who you think He is or should be.  Your worship will be in Spirit and truth  (John 4:23-25)
·         For example:  Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.  Your prayer can be: Lord I praise you because you are my shepherd. I praise you because you my Provider, You are all that I need...

Step 3: Meditating
·         Meditate on that particular attribute that the Holy Spirit has revealed to you.
·         Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more of God to you in this attribute.
·         Ex  Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. What does the attribute of Shepherd and Provider mean to you? The Shepherd leads, watches, guides, cares for, protects, provides ...

 Step 4: Responding
·         Ask the Lord how you should respond to Him in view of this attribute. Write your response in your journal.  
·        Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.
 Response: Lord I will trust you to provide for me when I (name your biggest need here - He has all the resources - You shall not want).

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