Do Christians Actually Need Daily Quiet Time?

Bible Belt Bros Christian Comedy Podcast

Do Christians Actually Need Daily Quiet Time?

Let me start with a confession: I tried to become a millionaire at QuickTrip this morning. Not through some elaborate business scheme or scratch-off lottery tickets, but through the tried-and-true method of spilling scalding coffee on my crotch and suing for damages.

Turns out QuickTrip has gotten smart about their McDonald's-style hot coffee lawsuits. They've apparently just turned down the temperature so when their coffee inevitably shoots out of the spout directly into your lap, you don't actually get burned. Smart business move. Terrible for my get-rich-quick scheme.

This minor disappointment happened on my way to grab coffee because I'd run out of espresso at home. My wife and I have this auto-ship thing for coffee, but we're always pushing it back because we think we're not drinking it fast enough. Classic overestimation of our own self-control. It's like when you buy a gym membership in January and then push back your first workout until February... then March... then next January.

But here's the thing – even without coffee, even after failing at accidental lawsuit fortune, I still had to face the day. And that meant confronting a question that's been bouncing around Christian circles for decades: Do I really need to do a daily quiet time?

The Quiet Time Identity Crisis

First, let's establish what we're talking about here. A quiet time, for the uninitiated, is that sacred Christian ritual where you're supposed to read your Bible, pray, journal, and sit in contemplative silence while God presumably downloads wisdom directly into your brain like some kind of spiritual Wi-Fi connection.

It's the Christian equivalent of kale smoothies – everyone knows they should be doing it, most people aren't, and the ones who are won't stop talking about it.

I've been doing a version of this for seven and a half years now, thanks to a men's group from church. We dissolved the group six months ago, but for seven straight years, we'd message each other every morning with a simple "done" after completing whatever Bible study we were working through. Usually five to ten-minute lessons – we're not talking about seminary-level theological deep dives here.

But here's where it gets weird: I've been doing my quiet time in the bathroom. On the toilet, specifically. I used to use an actual paper Bible, but then I realized that was probably disgusting, so now I just use my phone and a Bible app. Not sponsored, by the way, though if Life Church wants to cut me a check for the endorsement, I'm available.

This bathroom setup has worked for me because it's consistent. I wake up, I go to the bathroom, I read. It's part of my morning routine like brushing my teeth or wondering why I stayed up so late watching YouTube videos about conspiracy theories involving birds (different story for another time).

But lately, I've been wondering: Am I doing this because it's genuinely helping my spiritual life, or am I just checking a box? Is this relationship-building with God, or is it just ritual at this point?

The Pride Problem

Here's the uncomfortable truth: A lot of my quiet time motivation comes from pride. For seven years, I couldn't let the men's group down by not texting "done." Even now, months after the group dissolved, I still feel this compulsion to maintain the streak. It's like those people who refuse to break their Wordle streak even though they've stopped enjoying the game.

There's also the modeling aspect. We're told as Christians that we should be examples to others, especially to our families. Our pastor makes sure to do his quiet time in a visible place so his family can see him prioritizing God. Meanwhile, I'm in the bathroom with my phone. Not exactly the inspiring spiritual leadership moment you'd see on a church brochure.

My wife knows I do it, but my daughter doesn't. Though to be fair, explaining to a kid that Daddy has special God time in the bathroom might create more questions than answers.

The Requirement Question

So here's the big question that started this whole mental journey: Is a daily quiet time actually required? Like, biblically speaking?

I've looked, and I can't find anywhere in Scripture that says, "Thou shalt read these words every single morning, preferably while caffeinated." It's not the eleventh commandment. Moses didn't drop a third tablet that said, "Also, get a Bible app."

Jesus did set a precedent by withdrawing to quiet places to pray and talk with God. He'd leave his disciples behind – who, let's be honest, couldn't even stay awake to pray with him for an hour when he really needed them. So there's definitely biblical support for the concept of intentional time with God.

But required? Logistically speaking, no. There's no verse that says you have to do a daily quiet time or you're going to Christian jail.

Spiritually speaking? That's where it gets complicated.

The Discipline Debate

Here's the thing about spiritual disciplines: they're a lot like physical exercise. Nobody's going to die if they skip the gym for a week. But skip it for months or years, and you'll definitely notice the difference in your overall health and strength.

The same principle applies spiritually. You won't immediately keel over and die if you skip your Bible reading for a few days. But spiritual death – that slow drift away from God – usually doesn't happen through one major event. It happens gradually, through small neglects and tiny compromises that add up over time.

Dave Ramsey has this illustration about being one degree off course. If you're aiming straight ahead but you're just one degree off, after ten years you'll be miles away from where you wanted to be. The same thing happens spiritually. Small inconsistencies in spiritual discipline can lead to big gaps in your relationship with God over time.

So while a daily quiet time might not be legally required by biblical law, it's probably spiritually necessary if you want to keep growing in your faith. It's like saying you don't technically need to eat vegetables every day to survive. Technically true, but good luck trying to thrive without them.

The Reality Check

Let me level with you: I could probably ask nine out of ten of my Christian friends if they have a regular quiet time, and nine of them would say no. I'm being generous including myself as the one "yes" in that made-up statistic.

This isn't meant to shame anyone. It's just the reality. Most Christians know they should be doing this, but most Christians aren't. We're spiritually surviving rather than thriving.

And here's the thing – even if you don't have a formal "quiet time," you might still be connecting with God throughout your day. Maybe you pray while driving. Maybe you listen to Christian music. Maybe you have conversations with God while you're working alone (like I do – one of the perks of my job is that no one's usually there to hear me talking to myself/God).

But there's something to be said for intentional, focused time. Something different about starting your day by prioritizing God over everything else – including your phone, your coffee, your news feed, your anxiety about the day ahead.

The Morning Strategy

I refuse to pick up my phone or turn on the TV before I do my quiet time. God gets first priority. Well, after using the bathroom, but that's simultaneous, so it doesn't count.

This isn't about legalism or earning points with God. It's about setting the tone for the day. When you start by acknowledging God, thanking him, reading his words, and listening for his voice, it changes how you see everything else that happens.

You're more likely to notice small blessings – like when someone lets you merge in traffic (thank you, God, for that random act of kindness). You're more likely to see opportunities to serve others. You're more likely to have patience when things don't go according to plan.

It's like putting on spiritual goggles that help you recognize God's presence and work throughout your day.

The Flip Side Question

Here's something I learned from a friend: instead of asking "Do I have to do a quiet time?" try flipping the question. Ask yourself: "Why wouldn't I want to spend time with the one who saved me, sustains me, and is the source of all wisdom, guidance, and peace?"

When you put it that way, it's not about obligation anymore. It's about relationship.

We all love our moms, right? We say our moms gave us life. But God is the one who truly gave us life – physical, spiritual, eternal. So why wouldn't we want to treat him at least as well as we treat our moms? Most of us call or text our moms regularly. We make time for them. We prioritize them.

Shouldn't we do the same for God?

The Thriving vs. Surviving Question

This brings us to the heart of the matter: Are you spiritually surviving or thriving?

Surviving means you're getting by. You go to church on Sundays. You pray when you're in trouble. You know the basic Bible stories. You try to be a good person.

Thriving means you're growing. You're becoming more like Jesus. You're seeing God work in your life. You're equipped to help others in their faith journey. You have peace that doesn't make sense given your circumstances.

The difference often comes down to consistency in spiritual disciplines. Not because God loves you more when you read your Bible every day, but because regular time with God changes you. It strengthens your spiritual muscles. It tunes your ear to hear his voice. It aligns your heart with his priorities.

The Practical Reality

Look, I'm not going to tell you that you have to wake up at 5 AM and spend two hours in contemplative prayer while birds sing outside your window and sunbeams stream through your perfectly organized home office.

Maybe your quiet time is five minutes. Maybe it's while you're drinking your coffee. Maybe it's during your lunch break. Maybe it's listening to the Bible on audio while you commute.

The key is consistency and intentionality. Anytime with God is better than no time with God.

But here's what I've learned after seven and a half years of bathroom Bible study: those few minutes in the morning set the tone for everything else that follows. Even on days when I wake up grumpy (which shouldn't happen since I'm supposedly a morning person), even when I don't feel like doing it, I always feel better after.

It's never a waste of time. It's not that bad. Actually, it's usually pretty good.

The Bottom Line

So do Christians need to do a daily quiet time? Legally? No. There's no biblical commandment requiring it.

Practically? If you want to grow spiritually, if you want to thrive rather than just survive, if you want to recognize God's presence and work in your daily life – then yes, some form of regular, intentional time with God is essential.

It doesn't have to look like anyone else's quiet time. It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to be Instagram-worthy.

It just has to be yours.

And who knows? Maybe after a few months of consistency, instead of asking "Do I have to do this?" you'll start asking "Why wouldn't I want to do this?"

Just maybe don't do it in the bathroom. Or do – I'm not judging. God meets us where we are, even if where we are happens to be on the toilet at 6 AM with a Bible app and questionable life choices.

The important thing is showing up. Even without the coffee. Even after failing to become a QuickTrip millionaire. Even when you don't feel like it.

Because sometimes the most important conversations happen in the most ordinary moments, with the most ordinary people, in the most ordinary places.

Even bathrooms.

Especially bathrooms, apparently.