Unfruitful quiet times are a sign of immaturity. People start reading their Bibles and praying because they know it is the right thing to do or they heard that other people do it, but soon they find themselves just going through the motions.
They read their Bible, shut it, and forget what they read. Or they pray about a couple things that are important to them. Then they go on with the rest of their day. They think they’re doing everything they’re supposed to do to be a mature Christian, yet they don’t understand why they feel so weak.
Just going through the motions and having a quiet time (devotional time with God) doesn’t make you stronger. You have to do the right things during that time. If you have quiet time, but don’t do the right things to really build yourself up, you get the illusion that you’re a strong Christian.
Just because you’re taking 15 minutes or a half-hour or an hour every day, you aren’t automatically strong. When you do the right things in your devotional time, you come out of it feeling like you have pumped iron. You are strong.
Again, people get disillusioned because they feel like they have done everything to get strong, but are still not strong. Why keep having quiet times? It doesn’t do any good to have devotional time if you’re not really connecting with God.
You can’t just say, “Well, I read that Bible verse and nothing ever really happened. I read that chapter of Scripture like I do every day and nothing happened.”
Instead, you have to take that Word and begin to cram it down your throat, meditate on it, memorize it, chew on it all day long, write it on a card, and take it with you.
It’s time for serious Christians to stand up and say, “You know what? I’m tired of going through the motions and pretending I’m mature just because I’m doing this act. I’m only mature if I take what I read and apply it to my life and begin to do it.”
Remember, maturity is not measured just by the things you do or how old you are. It is measured by how obedient you are to do the things that you learn, and the things you read in the Bible.
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Ron Luce was the co-founder and president of Teen Mania Ministries from 1986-2015. Ron and his wife Katie dreamed to raise young people who would change the world.
Ron received his bachelor's degree in Psychology and Theology from Oral Roberts University and his master's in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tulsa, along with an honorary doctorate from Jerry Falwell of Liberty University. He is a sought-after speaker who has traveled to more than 60 countries and has made numerous media appearances, such as Dr. James Dobson's Focus on the Family radio broadcast, CNN, The O'Reilly Factor, ABC Nightline, The 700 Club, Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the Sean Hannity Show. Ron has also written 35 books for teens, youth pastors, and parents and continues to speak at leaders' conferences helping parents and pastors understand the plight of today's youth and showing them how all of us can be part of the solution.
Ron and Katie currently live in Garden Valley, Texas, with their son Cameron. They have two daughters, Hannah and Charity.