Solitude
There is no refuge untouched by the confines of His law and perfect will. So, as we engage in our practice of solitude, we are always confronted with His presence.
When we think about solitude, it often conjures images of being alone, where we withdraw from everything to better focus on our inner thoughts and feelings. But as followers of Christ, we believe in a world where there is no place to hide from His gaze. There is no refuge untouched by the confines of His law and perfect will. So, as we engage in our practice of solitude, we are always confronted with His presence. We are not retreating to a place of pure isolation, but rather stepping away from the busyness and distractions of the world - it's a return to God. We are not embracing the expanses of nature or silence to empty our minds, but rather to be confronted with the laws He has laid down which govern all things. Inescapable laws that have been revealed in His word for us to meditate upon in our moments of solitude.
While solitude can imply isolating oneself, it also signifies an intentional separation or seclusion to a chosen place of rest and harmony. Scripture is filled with instances of God calling people out from their comfort zones (consider Abraham) and into uncomfortable environments such as a flooded world (Noah) or desolate deserts (the Exodus from Egypt), where He dwells with them, dismantling the trappings of their current lifestyles to reveal the greater promises in store for them (the Promised Land).
That tradition of division and separation through the process of solitude was embraced not only at a national level but at the individual level as modeled best by the example of Jesus who began His ministry by retreating to the desert in solitude and was noted to often withdraw to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:15-16). There are many accounts throughout the gospels where Jesus withdrew from crowds and even His closest friends to be with the Father, knowing that it was vitally necessary that the Father’s will be complete in Him.
If the Son of God craved and understood His need to retreat to God, how much more do we need those uncomfortable/refreshing moments with Him also? God has called His church to be divided and separated from the world, in order that we might be His at a corporate level but also as individuals. He desires moments of solitude with us. There are things that simply cannot be achieved in the context of a noisy environment, surrounded by the demands and expectations of others. He is a jealous God and does not want our afterthoughts, our token portions of time and attention. When we put everything else to the side and seek Him in solitude, we put Him on the highest throne in our hearts and there He is free to reign, to reveal Himself to us, to heal us, and prepares us for the great works and promises He has in store for us.
What does solitude look like?
Withdrawing from social engagement (in person & online) – Leaving your phone behind, taking out your earphones – If possible, try to get outside - immerse yourself in God’s creation! – Or find a quiet place in your home
I’m in solitude - now what?
When we are in solitude, there are many things that we can do and we can look to Jesus to know what some of those things include: – Prayer (Matthew 6:6 & 14:23) – Meditation on God’s word (Psalm 1:1-2) – Fasting (Matthew 4:1-2) – Resting (Mark 6:31-32)
Practice
We believe solitude can be a great daily practice, sometimes being multiplied throughout your day. This week find at least 3 times to practice solitude.
Preparing for solitude
Set aside a specific time of the day. We recommend first thing in the morning when your body is rested and the day is new. Allocate a predetermined amount of time each day. We suggest beginning with 10 minutes on the first day, then gradually increasing to 20 minutes, and finally to 30 minutes by the end. You may need to set your alarm a bit earlier to accommodate this practice in your daily schedule, designating a specific place to go for your practice.
Engaging in solitude
Begin your time of solitude by sitting in silence. Your mind will run wild with a list of all the things you should be addressing rather than sitting in solitude with God. Write down all those tasks and concerns. Then, set that list aside. By doing this, your mind understands that these matters have been recognized and will be dealt with, but they are not your top priority at the moment.
Next, have a simple prayer or passage of scripture to read. End with an invitation for God to speak to you. Then sit and listen - listen for twice as long as you read or pray. Whenever you’re done, close your time with a simple prayer of gratitude to God for His presence, love, and goodness in your life.