When Is The Best Time of Day to Read The Bible and Pray?

Do you wonder if there is a certain time of day that is best for Bible reading and prayer? Many Christians set aside a special time each day to be alone with God. In some circles this is known as "Quiet Time" or "Daily Devotions" and is typically spent reading the Bible and praying.

Perhaps you have given thought to cultivating such a practice. If so, I applaud you and wish you much success in the pursuit of a daily meeting with God. But if you're busy, as most of us are, it may be a challenge to determine what time of day is best for you.

So let's turn to the Bible to see what other believers have done in this regard.

1. In the morning.
It is easy to make a compelling argument for Bible reading and prayer as soon as you arise. What a great way to start the day – in the presence of Almighty God! You start the day thinking about God and filling your mind and heart with His truth. And you can bring your prayer requests before Him and ask for the help you'll need to face the day.

This is why David wrote, "Morning by morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; morning by morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation" (Psalm 5:3).

2. At night.
At the other end of the spectrum, many Christians like to end the day with a special time with Jesus. You can read, study and meditate on the Word and go to sleep with God's truth in your heart. You can also reflect on the events of that day, bringing requests before the Lord related to people you just encountered or situations that are fresh in your mind.

And so the psalmist could declare, "At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws" (Psalm 119:62). Of course, you don't have to wait till the clock strikes 12 to spend time with your God!

3. At noon.
So first thing in the morning certainly seems like a good time to commune with God; so does the end of the day. Other Christians see the need to carve out time in the middle of the day – even those who work all day may prefer to spend their lunch break with Jesus than their co-workers.

David could pray to God any time – "Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice" (Psalm 55:17).

Perhaps by now you've come to the same conclusion as me – any time of day is the best time to pursue God. Having your Quiet Time in the morning is not the 11th Commandment. If you are eager to experience the blessing of God by spending time in the Word and prayer, you'll be like the person whose "delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2).