My dear readers,

(Excerpts from Building Firm Foundations, Dr SH Tow)

1. The hard struggle for "Quiet Time"

The Christian life is one life-long struggle, until we arrive Home. The greatest Christian, St Paul, describes his personal experience in terms such as "so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection … I press toward the mark … I have fought a good fight. ..." (1 Cor 9:26b, 27; Phil 3:14; 2 Tim 4:7).

If the Apostle had to struggle, how much more must we. In the fast-flowing current of the world, our spiritual boat of life will be swept into the ocean of godlessness unless we keep rowing hard upstream all the time. This applies to every believer without exception. The world around us constantly seeks our friendship, so that the prince of this world may add us to his numbers. Our homes can become spiritual citadels, where our members may daily take refuge and renew their strength. That is, if we will order our homes accordingly.

We have spoken of the utter necessity of daily Family Worship to counteract the day’s pollution of the outside world. There is also the need for individual communion with God. This has to be on a daily basis also. Our Lord says, "when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret" (Matt 6:6). Personal and private communion is the ordained channel of intimate access to God.

The time of the day helps. The best is early in the morning, at a predawn hour. Our Lord did His Quiet Time (QT) in the morning,"rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed" (Mk 1:35). Can we do as He did? Not Easy! Remember His words: "the spirit indeed is willing,but the flesh is weak" (Matt 26:41b).

So we struggle - against the world, against sin, and against the flesh.The spirit is ever willing. The flesh is always weak! The battle is QT vs the Rest! The Rest includes the cosy warm bed, the Daily News (hot off the press), the morning radio broadcast, the demands of another busy day.

Most times the outcome is sad defeat. Why? Simply because we have not given equal time or priority to QT. There is time for morning cleaning up, breakfast, newspaper, etc. Why not also for QT? Treat QT as a priority item and give it "prime time". That is half the battlewon!

If you put the Lord first in your life, QT will be no problem.

2. Best time for God

While it is true that prayer may ascend to God any time of the day, and at all times "without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17), nevertheless we should not neglect the best time of the day for our prayer devotion. The Psalmist's words echo the experience of many godly men: "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee,and will lookup" (Ps 5:3).

The best time to converse with God is in the early morning before the world comes knocking at the door. Unless you have this prior appointment with the Lord which you determine to honour, your morning will be so crowded out that the Lord will be brushed aside. Then we find ourselves attending to the affairs of the world, concentrating our morning thoughts on everything and everybody, but the Lord is left out altogether.

Should we thus belittle the God of our salvation?

God deserves our first thoughts, for He first thought of us. We were in His thoughts long before we were born. He thought of us "before the foundation of the world." He planned our redemption before we fell. If we were thus esteemed by God, occupying even His first thoughts, should we not also devote to Him our first thoughts? O let us awake daily to the light of His countenance and the sweetness of His presence. Refreshed with sleep, recharged with His health, let us greet our Saviour each day with the best hour, and let His beauty fill our souls. Thus invigorated we may safely face the world.

All through life George Whitefield was an early riser. His day began at four o'clock and he would retire punctually at ten in the evening. If friends were present, he would courteously end the proceedings, saying, "Come gentlemen! It is time for all good folks to be home." He wanted to be sure of his morning appointment with God.

Will you also give Him your besthour? Have you tried the predawn hour?

Lord, Thou gave me Thine best. May I give Thee my best!

God bless you dear readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor