In his excellent book God in the Whirlwind, David Wells warns that:

“If we are not self-directed, we will be tumbled along by our culture. And that is when we will lose our ability to reflect on the deeper issues of life. Without this ability to stop, to focus, to linger, to reflect, to analyze, and to evaluate, we begin to lose touch with the God who has called us to know him”

I can’t think of a better way to describe this unique challenge for 21st century American Christians. It seems as though a big part of the fabric of our culture is to be busy, busy, busy. And this is not just for those of us who are dealing with jobs, bills, and car seats, but it affects students as well. Teenagers often get a bad rap in our society as lazy, video game loving, do-nothings (much of which is deserved), but this stereotype overlooks the fact that the average teen is really quite busy with productive activities like school, homework, sports, clubs, chores, jobs, and social activities. And of course, don’t forget the nagging pull of social media, TV, and a hundred and one other forms of technological gadgetry. Now, for a Christian student, add to all this the endless list of church services, Bible studies, and youth activities, and you start to get the idea of what we’re talking about.

What students (and all of us, for that matter) need on a regular basis is some time “to stop, to focus, to linger, to reflect, to analyze, and to evaluate” and of course, all of this is to be done in light of God’s word and through prayer. What we need is what many of us like to call “quiet time” when all distractions are laid aside, our Bibles are open, and our minds are clear to focus upon communing with the Lord. But as Wells notes, this does not just happen; it takes self-direction. And in my many years as a youth pastor, this is always the sticking point. I often feel like a cowboy with a cattle prod, looking for fresh new ways to motivate students to have their “quiet time.”

What’s wonderful is that all along the way, as I have “prodded” the students who sit across from me, I have recognized more and more my own wrong thinking about quiet time which has led me to develop some insights into some of the challenges that face all of us in this regard, along with some (hopefully) helpful tips for how to have a regular, meaningful part of the day to “be quiet.” I look forward to sharing these with you…