Jul. 02, 2022

The disciplines of simplicity and stillness are critical to making space for the Holy Spirit to engage our lives at deeper levels. The next discipline sounds simple enough but may actually be more difficult – the practice of solitude. Being by ourselves is generally not difficult for most of us. Many of us long for moments alone. Others of us endure moments alone as necessary sometimes. Jesus calls disciples to get alone for times of prayer. Jesus says this time alone is purposeful. It is time to allow conversation to occur between you and me and the One who made us about the state of our lives. That’s why Jesus says prayer time is not to be filled with many words like the pagans do when they pray, feeling like every moment needs to be filled with sound. It is to be time alone with God. Quiet time. Still time. Time where the Spirit can circle places in our lives where we are in step and out of step with the heart and priorities of Jesus. Time to speak the words of Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” It’s more than simply being alone. It’s solitude – choosing to be alone with the Spirit and allow him to search us so that things that are competing with Jesus for Lordship in our lives can be identified and dethroned, so that Jesus can reign without rival in our hearts. And in these moments of solitude, the Spirit does something else: reminds us of his faithfulness and power. Jesus spends time alone in prayer and returns strengthened and focused for the next chapter of his journey. Solitude is for both soul searching and soul strengthening.