Solitude For The New Year…

A few weeks ago I spoke about the spiritual discipline of “Solitude.” If you remember, solitude generally means to remove yourself to a secluded place absent of others and human activity. However, it is also true that you can experience solitude in a crowd if your heart and mind are focused within, removed from all that is around you. Solitude is the most fundamental and foundational spiritual discipline that a new believer or disciple must learn. We all must take regular time away from all other people to listen to God, His word, and our heart to stay focused in life!

After demonstrating Christ’s example in regularly practicing solitude and discussing some of the particulars of this spiritual discipline, a light came on for at least a few in our congregation…

One young adult approached me after the message and declared, “That sermon was specifically for me!” Surprised and excited with his enthusiasm I asked the obvious question – “Why?” He began to share how he was attending other church services in addition to our own, going to bible studies, and attending as many Christian concerts as he could trying to get closer to God. Yet, he was not getting to the intimacy with God that he desired. As he listened to this message on “solitude” he realized that he had been filling his life with Christian activities and the fruit of other peoples walk with the Lord, but not fellowshipping with the Lord Himself.

Though his Christian activities were not bad, nevertheless, they were a substitute for what he really needed. He needed to spend time alone with the Lord, discovering for himself that he is never ever really alone. He needed to reconnect with the “still small voice” of the Lord in a world full of distractions that compete to drown it out.

You and I need the same reconnection, renewal, refinement, and redirection in our dynamic walk with Jesus that solitude on a regular basis brings. As you renew your faith upon hearing Christ speak and experience His presence in solitude, you have a renewed clarity about what is important in your life, what must be done, and a new confidence
in your ability to do God’s will successfully! At the same time, you position yourself to receive the blessings God wants to give, because you have sought first His kingdom and His righteousness – now the promise that “all these things will be given to you as well” will be fulfilled by God. (Matthew 6:33)

Jesus regularly practiced solitude in His busy life – and therefore had the ability and wisdom He needed when He needed it. In preparing for 2008 will you take some special time in solitude with the Lord and His word? Will you set aside longer times than you normally do to evaluate and rework your life goals and actively listen for the Lord until you hear Him speak? From the example of Christ and others in the NT, practicing solitude as a disciple brings great benefits… staying in the center of God’s will for your life – progress toward the maturity in Christ God intends – greater sensitivity and compassion for others – a mouth more apt to speak life and faith instead of death and doubt – richer experience of your world and others in it – deeper, fuller, and more intimate experience of God’s presence, power, thoughts, and love – hearing the Lord speak! Jesus regularly trained with solitude throughout His life and ministry – will you too in 2008?

Lord bless,

Pastor Kelley