Quiet time is a necessity for any Christian’s spiritual maturity. However, praying the same way daily and reading the Bible can put you in a spiritual rut and go through the motions of faith. When Christians enter a spiritual rut, abandoning prayer and reading the Bible is easy. If you have quiet time that you feel is less than stellar, here are some ways to change your quiet time with God.

Change up your quiet time place.

If you typically have quiet time in the same room or chair in your home daily, try changing your location. Take an empty space in your home and make it a sanctuary if possible. Dim the lights, light candles and create a quiet relaxing environment. If you want to feel like you’re in nature, purchase an indoor water fountain. Get a comfortable chair and put pillows on it for extra comfort.

You could also add your favorite drink or food to your quiet time. Make breakfast or a cup of your favorite coffee before you start. By feeding your body, you’ll be able to feed your soul. By doing so, you’ll be able to interact and listen for an extended time. This way, you won’t be distracted by thirst or hunger.

If the weather permits, sit on your deck with your favorite drink outside. Start your time inside or outside by inhaling fresh air and deep breaths. As you inhale, thank God for the breath in your lungs. Sometimes, starting your quiet time with praise will put you in the mood to listen more intently to God.

Have your quiet time at a different time.

If the time you use to have your quiet time isn’t working, reverse the time of day when you have your quiet time. For example, if you’re a morning person, try having quiet time before bed. If you’re a night owl, consider getting up a few minutes before work. Because you’re aware that you’ll be tired during this time, it could motivate you to do as much as possible before going to sleep, keeping you focused on regularly accomplishing quiet time.

Find a quiet time partner.

This may seem strange, but sometimes sitting silently with someone and praying together will help you stay focused. The other person’s intention and focus will inspire you to keep your focus. Discussing the Bible together is also intellectually engaging instead of simply reading it and creating your interpretation. Find a spiritually mature partner who can help you stay on the right path. Pick a book of the Bible you’ve never read and read it with your quiet time partner. Study notes before coming together and add your thoughts on what you took from the passage. It’s fascinating to hear different viewpoints on the same passage.

You could also make your quiet time anything but silent. If you’re accustomed to sitting silently saying your prayers to God, try praising and shouting to God wherever you are. Make a joyful noise to Him, and He’ll honor your time with Him. It may also help to read another translation. Most Christians have a favorite translation they read regularly. There’s nothing wrong with having a favorite translation, but try reading one you haven’t read before.

See how these different versions interpret the same text. Sometimes, other words will speak to your particular situation. This will be a different version that will help you stay motivated to read to see how they contrast or compare with your favorite version. When your quiet time is over, take your favorite translation and compare each of their words. How are they different, and how are they similar?

Try using the ACTS method.

You may have heard of the ACTS method of prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication, but you could also try the Acts 1:8 way. Acts 1:8 says we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us. We will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The first step is to pray for your Judea, the people closest to you. Your Judea could be your community, neighbors, family and friends. Then, pray for your Samaria, the people in neighboring states and towns you know. Finally, pray for the ends of the earth, for those who don’t know God that they will come to know Him as their Savior.

Pray for people you know and those you don’t, asking God to perform a miracle and let those who don’t know Him or are furthest away spiritually to come to Him. God might bring people to Him that you never thought would come to know God and celebrate whomever He brings. Share your quiet time or offer to do Bible study with those who are new to the faith. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us that we should lead each other toward good deeds and love, and a great way to bring out the best in each other is to study the Bible together.

Write things down.

Memorizing scripture is sometimes a forgotten form of quiet time. It might help to buy some index cards and write down one verse that spoke to you every day you read the Bible. Put these index cards somewhere you know you’ll see them, like your kitchen, bathroom, or other places you go often. Instead of watching TV or listening to music, memorize that verse. In one year, you’ll have learned 365 Bible scriptures. Your soul and mind will improve, and you’ll be ready to spend more time with God as He speaks to your heart.

If that method doesn’t work for you, buy a journal and write the verses. Each day, write down a Bible verse that speaks to your heart. Visit the journal as often as possible, reminding yourself that God uses these verses to talk to you. What is He trying to say? Are there areas of your soul that He wants to reach? God wants us to live a life free in Christ. Jesus died so we could have this freedom. There are many ways to conduct your quiet time, but the critical thing to remember is every moment with Him counts.