Silence and Solitude

Is it just me or do you not like silence either? Silence and being in the quiet is not fun for me to where I typically distract myself to avoid it. There's something about being alone with myself and my thoughts that just scares me. But when I really think about it, how many moments have I missed where God wanted to speak to me or shape me, but I was distracted by so many things around me.

In Luke 5, we read that "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Jesus would regularly go to wide open spaces, all by himself, to pray. This is what the spiritual practice of solitude is. It is intentional time in the quiet with ourselves and God. It is tuning out all other voices so that the only voice is God's and your heart & mind is open before Him.

Luke 5:16

“So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”

Solitude is a combination of two things: stillness & silence. Stillness is sitting still, with no distractions, and waiting. Silence is where you silence noise outside you & make the space around as quiet as possible. This gives you space & time, before God, to wrestle down all the thoughts, worries, and emotions within you. So often we try to stay as busy & distracted as possible so that we never have to think through the lies, worries, & burdens that are on our hearts & minds. These things that we hide from in a busy & noisy world affect us more than we realize.

For me, in this busy season of life, I have to be intentional about being still and in silence. I have noticed that when I have been, like this past week, it has been so freeing for me. I sit in the stillness and talk to the Lord about the good, the bad, and the ugly. Often these things, like anxieties, hardships, and insecurities arise in these moments. There is something about being in the safe place of God's loving presence that brings freedom and healing to the hardships and worries of life that I am dwelling on in my mind.

This spiritual practice of Jesus, Silence & Solitude, allows us to meet with God & give those thoughts, burdens, & emotions to Him.

Prayer Tip #20 - Sit in Silence today. Use this time to confront your worries, emotions, burdens, & sin struggles. Intentionally give them to God in prayer.

Mark 6:30-32

“Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, 'Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.' For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.”

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Going to the Father in silence and solitude is essential for our souls & our walk with Him. He gives us rest from the worries of today & speaks life into the lies that we believe.

Prayer Points:

• Lord, help me to eliminate distractions, be silent, sit in the stillness, and wait for You.

• God, help me to surrender my worries, emotions, burdens, and sin struggles to You during this time.

• Lord, allow me to give You time and space to speak.

Suggested Prayer –

Father God,

I thank You for Your goodness and Your mercy, even when I don't deserve it. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, so that I can have access to You, Father. You are gentle and lowly in heart and give rest to my weary soul. God, help me to spend intentional time with You, where I eliminate distractions, sit in the stillness and silence, and wait for you. Thank You for being loving, compassionate, and caring about even the smallest things that burden my soul. You are a good good Father!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

With Love,

Brooke Hartley