How to pray
How to have a quiet time with God: read, pray, write, in 15 minutes a day
· 3 min read
How to have a quiet time with God each day, a simple 15 minute plan for reading the Bible and praying, what to do when you miss a day, and how to keep it going.
To have a quiet time with God, set aside the same 15 minutes each day, find a quiet place, read a short passage of the Bible, pray about what you read and the people on your heart, and write a line or two. Keep it simple and keep it daily. The goal is time with God, not a perfect routine.
What is a quiet time?
A quiet time is a regular time you spend alone with God, usually reading the Bible and praying. Jesus did this. “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). He also taught, “when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6, ESV).
A quiet time doesn’t earn anything from God. It’s a place to meet Him, listen to His Word, and talk to Him.
A simple 15 minute quiet time
This plan fits most mornings, lunch breaks or evenings:
- Settle (1 minute). Put your phone on Do Not Disturb. Ask God to speak: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18, ESV).
- Read (5 minutes). Read one short passage, like a psalm or part of a Gospel. Read it slowly, twice if you can.
- Think (2 minutes). Ask: what does this show me about God? What does it ask of me?
- Pray (5 minutes). Pray about what you read. Then pray for the people and needs on your heart, one at a time.
- Write (2 minutes). Write one or two lines: what stood out, or a short prayer.
What should you read in your quiet time?
Read something short enough to think about. Good places to start:
- A Gospel, like Mark, a chapter or half a chapter a day.
- Psalms, one a day, praying it back to God.
- A reading plan, so you don’t have to decide each morning.
If you’re new to the Bible, see how to read the Bible for beginners and this Bible reading plan for beginners.
A reading plan picks the passage, so your quiet time starts with reading, not deciding.
What should you pray about in your quiet time?
Pray about what you read first, then about your day and the people God has put on your heart. A simple pattern like the ACTS prayer method helps: praise God, confess, thank Him, then ask. Paul’s word is to “continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2, ESV).
A short prayer list keeps your quiet time from turning into a blank page. Pray for a few people each day instead of everyone every day. See how to make a prayer list.
What if you miss a day?
You will miss days. Start again the next day without making up for it. A quiet time is a relationship, not a score. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV).
If you keep missing, make it smaller. Five minutes you keep is better than thirty you skip.
How to have a quiet time with The Pray App
The Pray App holds the three parts of a quiet time: reading, praying and writing. On Home, tap Daily Bible Reading to read today’s passage from your plan. Then tap Start praying to pray through today’s prayer cards, one person or need at a time. Tap a card to flip it and write while you pray.
Flip a card to write what’s on your heart while you pray. It saves as you type.
Each card comes up on the days you choose, daily, weekly or monthly, so today’s list stays short enough to pray through. Set a Daily Prayer Reminder in Settings for the time you’ve chosen. See pray through today’s cards and follow a reading plan.
The Pray App is free on the App Store, with no ads. See also morning prayer routine and how to pray daily.
Questions people ask
What is a quiet time with God?
A quiet time is a set time each day when you read the Bible and pray on your own. Many Christians also write a few lines in a journal. It can be 10 minutes or an hour.
How long should a quiet time be?
Start with 10 to 15 minutes you can keep every day. A short quiet time you keep is better than a long one you skip.
What is the best time of day for a quiet time?
The time you can protect. Many people choose early morning, following Jesus, who prayed "very early in the morning" (Mark 1:35, ESV). Lunch or before bed works too.
What should I do in my quiet time?
Read a short passage of Scripture, think about what it shows you about God, pray about your day and the people on your heart, and write one or two lines about it.
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