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Solitude With God
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Solitude With God
On Sunday morning, I attended Sunday School taught by Rev. Michael J Conley. Rev. Conley is the Pastor of Christian Education and Worship at Marsh Corner Community Church in Methuen, Massachusetts.
The subject that we learned about was solitude with God. He began by saying that solitude was an opportunity and not a chore.
Most people in the room admitted that they do not have regular quiet time with God. Some said they combine their time with other activities like driving to work.
Rev. Conley continually encouraged the group not to feel guilty about their lack of time with God. He reminded them of the grace and love of God. He gently and sincerely helped the group understand how they would benefit from a regular quiet time. .
He first got our attention with amusing videos that depicted the business and noise of our lives. We all identified with the videos and they established our desperate need for solitude with God.
He then gave an excellent process for how to go about having solitude with God. The process he taught is described below.
He concluded with having each of us find a quiet spot in the very large room and practice the process he had just handed out. The room was so quiet. This was a very powerful time for the group.
Our lives are moving faster and faster. We carry computers, cell phones, Palm Pilots, and beepers.
Our loves are noisy. Babies continue to cry and cars continue to honk their horns. We hear ringing phones and watches beeping in our church services and movie theaters.
Technology is wonderful. It gives us the freedom of movement. It makes us more productive. Our family and business associates are able to find us when they need us. We use it to help feed our families, learn about God, and witness. We are able to communicate with far away relatives and friends.
It has also created more pressure. Because we can do more, more is expected of us. Our task lists are longer than they have ever been.
Because always being available is possible, our employers and families expect us to be constantly available. We can now be reached at the beach, in the bathroom, in church, at movies, and at funerals. People feel pressure to take calls in all of these places. I even witnessed someone taking a call while being a counselor during the invitation at a Billy Graham Crusade.
We are communicating more words per minute than any other generation. We can be talking on a cell phone and a landline, have someone sitting in our office, and be e-mailing someone all at the same time. We even have a name for this. We call it “multi-tasking.”
Jesus had none of the distractions of modern day technology. His life was much quieter than ours is. There were no ringing phones and no beepers. He had the noise of crowds and city streets but so do we. He was one with the Father at all times. Yet, he felt the need for solitude with God. If Jesus needed solitude, think about how much more we need this solitude.
Matt 14:13
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.
(from New International Version)
Mark 1:35
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
(from New International Version)
Luke 4:42
At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.
(from New International Version)
We are so busy that even when we try to get quiet, we have difficulty settling down. The process taught by Rev. Conley will help us focus.
He says we need to plan how we are going to spend our time with God. Our plan could include silent listening, scripture, praise music, singing, slow walks, journaling, and prayer.
He suggested starting with Psalms 23 and using the process below.
Ps 23:1-6
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
For his name's sake.
Even though I walk
Through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
For you are with me;
Your rod and your staff,
They comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.
(from New International Version)
Solitude – A Process
1. Find a place that is free of distraction. Most people find it helpful to go to the same place in their home every day.
2. Quiet yourself in God’s presence. You can do that by breathing deeply. You can slow yourself down and begin to feel the presence of God.
3. Tell God what you need. Keep it simple. If you need to quiet your mind, say so. Tell Him if you need help or guidance. If you cannot feel His presence, ask for it.
4. Use Scripture to speak to you. Invite God to speak to you through His word. Read it slowly and carefully. Notice and mark the spots that speak to your heart. Think about what thoughts or emotions surface.
5. Be fully present. Constantly remind yourself that you need to be with God. Give Him your undivided attention. Anticipate distractions by ignoring them or having a book to write them down so you can handle them later. Incorporate the distractions in your prayers. Tell him what you are feeling.
6. Respond to what you hear God saying to you in scripture or prayer. Speak to God about what you hear verbally or in writing. Many find journaling very effective. Begin by saying the words, “God, what I hear you saying to me it…..” Follow it up with, “This makes me feel…..”
7. Express gratitude and commitment to God. Spend a few minutes thanking God for His presence with you. Express your commitment to respond to what you have heard Him say to you today.
Make time for solitude with God. Turn off the phones and the television. Ask your spouse to take care of the children during this time. Close the door. Let everyone in the family know that this time with God comes ahead of everything, including their needs. Teach them to put God first in their lives by doing so yourself. Tell them you will be better able to meet their needs if you take this time.
Make it the most important thing that you do. Do not try to be efficient by combining it with any other activity. Emulate Jesus and begin your day with it. Give yourself a gift and make time for solitude with God.
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
(from New International Version)
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