- Eric Parravani-Hathaway
The Importance of a Quiet Time and Legacy
James 4:8 " Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Matthew 6:6 " But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
When I think of quiet time, these two verses come to mind. We constantly need to be in the Word. We need spiritual food. Just like our bodies need physical food in order to continue throughout the day our soul needs sustenance. If you went without food for days what would start to happen? You would grow weak, you would be more susceptible to sickness, and disease, You would get tired quicker and easier. In the same way our spiritual body needs that nourishment. The longer we go without the spiritual food they less discerning we become, (Hebrews 5:14) our mind starts to dwell on things other than truth, we start leaving God out of decision making, and we start to rely on other things. That is why a quiet time is so important. It is something that I was taught from a very early age, which still rings in my mind constantly. One reason it plays in my mind comes from a very particular song.
My Quiet Time by Ron Hamilton. I grew up listening to Ron Hamilton, Patch the Pirate known by many. We had a CD called Praise 1 by Patch the Pirate and I would listen to that every night in order to go to sleep. I couldn't sleep without it. I obviously had my favorites like: Servant's Heart, Here Am I, Lord, I Love You Lord and My Quiet Time. He sings, "Before I start each day there is a special place, I love to go alone and seek my Savior's Face, I find wisdom in His Word, to instruct me in His Will, and I hear His gentle voice say 'My child, be still.'" Through music I was taught to be alone with God, be still and listen for His voice through prayer. To seek Him and find the wisdom he gives through His Word, daily.
Through Ron Hamilton's heart for worship, teaching, and music, I learned these core truths and so much more from a man who had a servant's heart and devoted his life to teaching others truth through scripture in music. For those who don't know his story I encourage you to go read about it. He passed away last week from a long battle with dementia. In a little over four decades, Ron Hamilton composed approximately 1000 hymns, sacred songs, kids Bible-character songs, and kid’s fun songs. Ron also authored 40 kid’s stories, each with a biblical theme, and 20 Christmas musical stories, each with the gospel message. Through the Holy Spirit's work in Ron's life, he was able to reach countless kids and parents by sharing the gospel through music and stories.
I have followed his wife's Facebook for sometime because she has consistently posted updates of his journey through dementia. As heartbreaking as it was to see and watch the process unfold. There was always a peaceful joy and satisfaction in her post. Giving glory to God always for the circumstances and what would come from it all. Shelly, his wife, and Ron's testimony through life hardships and circumstances have been a consistent representation of joy in the midst of strife and contentment and endurance through trials. The legacy of Ron Hamilton will be passed on through music to people for generations and is one of love, tender-heartedness, overwhelming joy, and an unashamed messenge of the truth of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Listen to this song and focus on the words he is singing. I pray it's an encouragement to you to take time each day to spend with your Father and really get to know him.