How to Spend Time with God: A Practical Biblical Guide
Spending time with God is the most basic Christian discipline and the one most easily lost. Here is what the Bible models, in plain steps that work for ordinary days. Day 53 of the Bible in One Year plan.
The verse
"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." Mark 1:35 (ESV)
And David's morning posture, which has shaped Christian devotional life for three thousand years:
"O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." Psalm 5:3 (ESV)
Context
The Bible doesn't prescribe a single method for daily devotions, but it shows enough examples that a clear pattern emerges. David rises early to seek God. Daniel kneels three times a day toward Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10). Jesus retreats to lonely places to pray (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16). The early church devotes itself to "the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42). The shape changes; the priority doesn't.
Spending time with God is not a Christian extra-credit assignment. It is the way the relationship is sustained. No marriage thrives without conversation; no friendship survives years of silence. The relationship with God is no different.
What it means
A simple weekday rhythm has these elements.
1. A fixed time. The Bible's people had set times of prayer (Acts 3:1, "the hour of prayer, the ninth hour"). Most Christians find morning works best — before the day fills up. Pick a time and protect it.
2. A quiet place. Mark 1:35: Jesus went "to a desolate place." The point is no interruption. A chair, a table, a mug. Phone in the other room.
3. An open Bible. Read a passage slowly. Underline what God highlights. Ask: what does this say about God? What does it say about me? What does it ask of me? Don't rush coverage; aim for encounter.
4. Honest prayer. Use the structure ACTS — Adoration (worship who God is), Confession (admit what is wrong), Thanksgiving (name what is good), Supplication (ask). Or just talk like a child. Both are biblical.
5. A few minutes of silence. Sit. Don't fill the space. The Bible says God speaks in "a low whisper" (1 Kings 19:12). Whispers need quiet to be heard.
6. Brief journaling, optional. Two sentences: what God showed you today; what you will do about it. The discipline crystallizes the encounter.
Three honest notes. First, you will miss days. Don't catastrophize. Pick up tomorrow. Lamentations 3:23 — his mercies are new every morning, including the morning after you skipped. Second, dryness is normal. Saints across history have written about seasons of unfelt prayer. Show up anyway. The rain comes. Third, time with God is for him, not for performance. You are not earning anything; you are receiving someone.
The deepest goal of time with God isn't information; it's intimacy. Mary of Bethany "sat at the Lord's feet and listened" (Luke 10:39). That is the model. Martha was working for Jesus; Mary was with him. Both matter, but Jesus said Mary chose "the good portion."
How to apply it
- Block fifteen minutes tomorrow morning. Phone off. Bible open. Coffee close.
- Use a reading plan. Bible in One Year (this site!) is one structure. Pick something you can finish, not just admire.
- Pray Scripture, not just from memory. Pray a Psalm out loud. Make it your prayer.
- Keep a record of what God shows you. A small notebook. Two sentences a day. Look back monthly.
- Show up even when dry. Faithfulness in the unfelt is the Christian's most undervalued virtue.
Related verses
- Psalm 119:147 — "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words."
- Luke 5:16 — "But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray."
- Matthew 6:6 — "When you pray, go into your room and shut the door."
- James 4:8 — "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
- Hebrews 4:16 — "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace."
Reflection
The most fruitful Christians are not the ones with the most knowledge or the loudest experiences. They are the ones who, year after year, kept showing up — open Bible, honest prayer, ordinary morning. Time with God is built like that, brick by brick. Start tomorrow. The bricks add up faster than you think.
Frequently asked questions
How should I spend time with God daily?
A simple rhythm works best: a fixed time, a quiet place, an open Bible, an honest prayer. Mark 1:35 says Jesus "rose very early in the morning, while it was still dark, departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." If the Son of God needed it, you do too.
How long should my quiet time be?
Better short and consistent than long and rare. Fifteen minutes daily beats one hour weekly. The goal is relationship, not performance. Build the habit first; depth comes after.
What should I read?
Start with one Gospel — Mark or John. Read a chapter a day, slowly, with a pen. Then move to a Psalm and a chapter from the Old or New Testament. A reading plan (like Bible in One Year) provides structure without rigidity.
What if I don't feel anything?
Walk by faith, not feeling. Even Jesus' disciples often didn't "feel" him — they obeyed him. Show up to your time with God whether or not you feel inspired. Faithfulness over time produces fruit feelings can't manufacture.
How do I keep going when I miss days?
Don't try to make up missed days; just start again today. Lamentations 3:23 promises God's mercies are "new every morning." One missed day shouldn't end the habit; quitting after missing one day will.