Cultivating Spirituality: Silence and Solitude

To start our study on the spiritual disciplines, we will take a brief look at the contemplative disciplines of silence and solitude. My question for you is, how often are you in complete and total silence, and how often are you completely alone and secluded from the "outside world"? In asking myself this question, I come up with "not very often" as an answer for both. I am hardly ever in complete silence, and even less so in complete seclusion, alone with only God. In our day and age, silence and solitude are often rare, unappreciated things. It seems to be a goal in life to stay connected and entertained, with our Ipods, cellphones, Facebook, email, clubs, groups, active social lives and busy schedules. Often, if we are alone, without anyone else around us, we feel awkward and unloved. Silence scares us, because we know longer know it or its uses. Jesus, however, knew the uses of silence and solitude. Take a look at these verses:

Luke 5:16 "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

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."

Silence and solitude go together like peas in a pod. Its basic logic that when you are in a solitary place, silence is also there with you. Jesus knew this, and used it to his advantage. Silence and solitude teach us to hear the voice of God and to "wait upon the Lord". Some of the benefits of silence and solitude are:

• hearing from God - 1 Kings 19:11-13
  
• waiting on the Lord to act - Lamentations 3:25-28


• a place for one on one worship - Habakkuk 2:20


• getting to know God personally - Jeremiah 9:24


• praying effectively - Luke 5:16
  

Its hard enough to hear ourselves think in this world of noise, and its hard to know yourself when you are never alone and always with others - you become more like them and less like yourself! Its the same way with God! Its hard to hear Him communicate with us if we are always surrounded by noise, and its hard to know Him when we are never alone with Him in His presence - but if we are in His presence, we become more like Him and less like ourselves! Now that we know the benefits of silence and solitude, how do we truly discipline ourselves? How do we practice these disciplines?

Where:

• a quiet place in your home


• a corner in the library


• a place in the mountains, by a stream, or somewhere in nature
  
• somewhere you are guaranteed to not be interrupted!
  
  

When:

• early in the morning while its still dark out (just like Jesus!)


• on the drive to work


• before you fall asleep at night


• during your lunch break
  

How:

• pray


• contemplate an attribute of God (His presence, mercy, grace, love, etc)


• consider His faithful actions in the past


• listen for the Lord
  

My goal is to start spending at least 30 minutes a day in complete silence and solitude. Often in silence and solitude is where we find God waiting for us, so my hope is that you take some time out of your life to go to Him! God bless!