Last week I shared with you three keys about how to have a daily quiet time. Remember, they weren’t overly complex: identifying a specific place, a specific time and a specific plan. Today, though, I want us to consider why a daily quiet time matters. What’s the goal?

Over the years, I’ve found there are three things I want from my morning quiet time. Sometimes I gain more, but these three are the foundation for me, the things that have changed the course of my days and the course of my life.

First — Listen. Start with listening. This can happen several ways, but it begins with prayer. Ask God to speak to you through His Word. As you read your Bible and your devotion, pay attention to what God is revealing specifically to you.

Second — Learn. Make notes about what you’re learning. Over the years this has taken different formats, but currently I am using a small planner and making a note each day about what passages I read and then what stood out to me. Some days I write a verse down. Some days I jot down a prayer or a quote from the devotion. Some days I write out something new I understood or even a question I am asking.

The point is to track what you’re learning. This is such a great way to look back and see how God has been at work in you.

Third —Launch. Here’s where the rubber meets the road. What will you do with what you’ve heard and learned? How will you put it into action?

Launching is a simple way to think about applying the truths God has revealed. For example, if you’re reading in Proverbs about the value of a fitting word, launching simply means identifying a specific person you can speak a fitting word to that day or asking God for an opportunity to speak encouragement to someone.

The most important thing I can tell you about a quiet time is this: it’s far less about what you do and far more about Who you’re meeting. Our Father simply wants to spend time with you. Our quiet time is one way we prioritize the call to abide.

Don’t make it hard – make it happen!