Solitude

Last Sunday we kicked off our new Anchor Series called ‘Find me in the Wilderness’. The heart of this series is to capture the Desert-like season we have found ourselves in as a Church and study the way Jesus responded in His own Wilderness season.

The Wilderness is a scary place, it can be disorientating and it can feel unknown but it can also be a wonderful place to meet and encounter God.

Dallas Willard once remarked that “It was an important day in my life when at last I understood that if he needed forty days in the wilderness at one point, I very likely could use three or four.”

I love that.

I’ve defined the practice of Solitude simply as this:

‘Departing from people in order to encounter God.’

Luke 4:1-4

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Erémos) , 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

What we know is that this practice was central to the life of Jesus and the lives of many throughout Church history, from the Desert Fathers to the early Celtic Church to the Anchorites. I believe that Solitude is a practice that God wants us to recapture today for the restoration of our souls in this season.

There are many benefits to Solitude, to making the choice to step away from people in order to meet with God. It allows us space to be with the Father, to let Him speak into our day, our lives, our purpose and our call. It allows us space to be real with Him, to express what we’re really feeling and trust that He can take it. It is also the place of transformation, a place where we give the healer our brokenness and trust Him to do His work.

A place to connect, be real and be transformed.

It is a wonderful practice in this season of ‘self-isolation,’ to choose to see ourselves not as isolated without choice but retreating, alone, to the life giving and restorative presence of God by choice. I see no better time to recapture it.

Heres some practical tips from my talk on how to engage with Solitude…

Take time away. Find where is the space in your day to retreat to God. Wake up a little earlier, steal a 5 minute break when you can, take your daily exercise to be with the Father.

Put the phone away - your phone is a great servant but terrible master, don’t let it distract from time encountering God.

What surfaces? - Often when entering Solitude stuff comes to the surface of your mind. A recent conversation, a shopping list, worries, fears, anger, peace. Rather then just pushing all this away, invite Jesus to speak into it.

Its not about performance - just showing up is great.

Be patient. Engaging with any spritiual practice such as Solitude requires discipline and effort. It’s okay if you find it hard to focus or to be alone. Even if you only take 5 minutes to start with.

Be yourself - Pray how you can, not how you can’t. Find out what works for you, whether that is worshipping, journalling or just sitting in the stillness. Ultimately, let it be about retreating to seek connection with your Father.

Great reading on the subject
Way of the Heart - Henry Nouwen

Invitation to Solitude and Silence - Ruth Haley Barton

Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster 

Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - John Mark Comer 

Full talk here