Inadequacy. Failure. Fear. Intimidation. I have a notion that these are all feelings that most Christians experience when they hear talk of "private worship" (or devotionals or quiet time, or whatever you call it!). It's rare to find a Christian who says "my Bible reading is on track and helpful, my prayer life is rich, my Scripture memory is going well, and I'm fasting once per month." Wooah! Gear down there big shifter -- really?! It's hard to imagine someone with the time, commitment, and consistent desire to maintain Spiritual disciplines for the long haul in the grueling marathon of life. I don't think it's because we don't think it can be done -- I think it's because we haven't done it ourselves. I'm afraid that most professing Christians don't have seasons of dryness, but rather actually live in the Sahara Desert. Perhaps, from time-to-time, we attempt an all out sprint, but as soon as we begin to burn our lungs breathing in the dry air and our muscles cramp, it peters our again. Walking. Maybe crawling. Maybe passed out completely.

Most Christians I've talked to and counseled have a desire for a committed private worship, but it doesn't typically result in action. But why? Is it time? Too many distractions? Not a thrilling enough experience? A belief that it's not all that necessary?

I think all of these elements exist in us on some level. Out natural tendency toward unbelief tells us that it's not important and that we don't have time. But I think even when we get beyond that, the most crippling effect is that we don't know what we're doing, or how to do it. So, while a discussion on the "why" of private worship might be helpful, I think the most pressing question for most believers is "what do I do and how do I do it?" So, I'm going to shoot at that target with ten principles through a series of posts that have been helpful to me, and others, to help us answer that question. Notice: These things work for me. They change from time to time, and no matter how many ways I do private worship, I still must fight the tendencies to be apathetic and dry. I'm a sinner, so nothing is fail proof and nothing works 100% of the time. Thank God for grace.

1. Plan
When entering into private worship each day, it's important to have a plan. Don't let the plan be something you come up with "on the fly" -- that's not a plan! Get it ready the night before, so you don't have distractions or more reasons as to why not to do it. Consider the following questions while planning:

• How much do I want to accomplish?


• What will I be praying for/about?
  
• What is my reading plan?
  
• Is there a book I need to have ready?
  
• Where's my Bible?
  
• Is the coffee timer set? Alarm clock?
  
• Am I going to bed on time so I'm not exhausted and to sleep through my time in the morning?

2. Place
Be as consistent as possible with the place in which you will be having private worship. Sit in the same chair, at the same table, in the same room every time. This will help in the elimination of distractions and will help you establish a habit. When picking out a place in your home for private worship, consider the following:

• Will I be disturbing others?
  
• Is it quiet here? Will others be disturbing me?
  
• Are there any temptations around (computer, chores, magazines, work, etc.)?

3. Period
When will you be doing your private worship? Set a time and stick to it. Most importantly, don't let it be something that you squeeze in when you get some time -- you'll never "get some time." Make it part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth and taking a shower (I hope!). Most people do those things the same time and in the same order from day to day -- why should private worship be any different?

This should be daily, and I would suggest that it is in the morning. Granted, some very faithful believers that I know do their private worship in the evening, and I used to as well, but if you have a family or an unpredictable job schedule, don't wait until the end of the day because it'll get left out more than you'd like. Start your day off right -- with the Lord and His Word.

Psalm 88:13: "But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you."
Psalm 90:14: "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."

4. Privacy
Remember, this is private worship! Family worship is great -- in fact, it is something I encourage often! But, private worship is your time with the Lord so make sure it isn't distracted by others. Often you will find yourself in times of prayer that bring tears of sorrow, and tears of joy. Other times you may want to sing, or pray out loud. These are intimate moments with the Lord, and will be some of the most memorable as well. Establish some privacy for the sake of your faith, growth, and joy in Christ.

5. Purpose
Prior to entering into a time of private worship, it's important to have the "why" figured out. Remind yourself of it daily. The bottom line is that there will be days when we simply do not feel like spending the time that is necessary for profitable private worship, therefore our sinful hearts need a constant reminder. You should enter into your private worship with a desire to have joy-filled communion with God, knowing that you will be blessed in each encounter with Him through His word, prayer, singing, memorizing Scripture, etc.

I think one way we can remind ourselves of the purpose is to be productive in our progress. In other words, as you are going through a time of private worship, work to have several elements present for a more fully-orbed worship experience. If we limit our time to just reading or just praying or just singing, over time the purpose will be confused with individual elements of worship and we will be much less productive.

6. Preparation
Heart work needs to be done prior to entering into worship. I have several things I do to prepare my heart. I always being by praying I.O.U.S., which I picked up from John Piper. It is very helpful to get my heart and mind focused:

I - "Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!" (Psalm 119:36). O - "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law" (Psalm 119:18). U - "Unite my heart to fear your name" (Psalm 86:11b). S - "Satisfy [me] in the morning with your steadfast love, that [I] may rejoice and be glad all [my] days" (Psalm 90:14).

I usually begin my Scripture reading in the Psalms after I pray IOUS -- the Psalms have an uncanny way of calling our hearts to worship and an rejoice in the glory of God.
I also use the Valley of Vision prayers each day to prepare myself for worship. I simply read and meditate on one prayer per day and allow the puritans to speak for me in marvelous ways!

7. Perspective
Make sure that you private worship is multi-perspectival. In other words, incorporate different elements into your worship that shall serve to draw you nearer to the Lord. Here are a few different elements that I suggest:

• Bible (of course!) - Remember, have a plan. I read 1 OT chapter, 1 Psalm, and 1 NT chapter every day. For some, that's too much.
  
• Prayer - I pray in several different ways. I use lists, written prayers (typically from Valley of Vision), the Bible, spontaneous, sometimes short, and sometimes long. I will also utilize books to inform my prayers (Ex. Operation World).
  
• Journal - I use the ESV Journaling Bible for my private worship and keep another journal for miscellaneous notes regarding my daily life, prayers, and what God is currently doing in my life. Journaling, to me, is one of the most important parts of private worship - taking the time to reflect on the text and the work of God in my life is amplified through this discipline.
  
• Song(s) - God doesn't care if you have a bad voice - and good for everyone else, this is private worship! From time to time I will play a song on my guitar or piano to sing praises onto the Lord.
  
• Books - This one is probably on any kind of list that I make, but I try to incorporate books into all aspects of my life! Books in private worship are helpful in getting me to think more deeply on specific passages (commentaries), theological points, or various elements of Christian living.

8. Pleasure
Worship is for your joy because joy that causes worship is joy in God. In Desiring God, John Piper writes, "worship is essentially a way of honoring God... worship is a way of gladly reflecting back to God the radiance of His worth... [but] it is necessary to define worship not simply as a way of reflecting back to God the radiance of His worth, but, more precisely, as a way of doing it gladly" (p. 84). In worship - private, family, or corporate - we must fight against viewing it as a duty and pray that God would give us the deepest sense of delight. A fundamental aspect of private worship is the delighting of oneself in the Lord: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). We must fight for joy in God, that our worship may be complete.

9. Perseverance
Private worship is hard work! It is vitally important that we press on through the difficulty as we fight for joy in Christ. There will be days that we wake up, not wanting to spend time in the Word of God and prayer -- these are the times when it is most important to persevere and do it anyway. The great discovery that is often made in these times of perseverance is that the Lord is always faithful to reveal Himself to those who take to the battle against the flesh and reslove to meet with Him. These are the blessings that cause one to endure. Press on!

10. Patience
Private worship is a rewarding discipline that takes time to develop. It is important to not get discouraged. There will be difficult days of which the Lord will use to build your faith and trust in Him. Pray for sustaining grace and remember that intimacy with the Lord does not function like your microwave or an ATM. Sanctification is a lifelong process in which nothing happens overnight. Trust the Lord's timing and don't give up. "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him" (Psalm 37:7).