Weekly Email - Spiritual Solitude

Christmas time is an extremely busy time of the year. We have extra demands upon our schedule that are not there at other times of the year. We have additional activities at home, at work, at school, and at church. Take for example the morning I experienced today:

My morning today started with a breakfast meeting at 6:30am which in turn rolled into a second meeting when I arrived at my office which then rolled into a third meeting. It was around 11:30 by the time I finished these meetings. I literally had no time between these meetings. My morning was packed. As a result, I did not spend any time this morning in God’s Word.

This happens to all of us. One activity leads to another and then to another and our schedule becomes over-packed and overloaded. It is in these times that it all the more important for us to retreat, to rest, and to recharge the spiritual batteries.

Jesus saw the importance of times for spiritual solitude. If Jesus needed it, then certainly we need it as well.

"After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone..." (Matt. 14:23)

"After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land" (Mark 6:46-47).

Jesus withdrew again to a mountain by himself... (John 6:15).

There are other times in the Bible when God powerfully speaks to others in solitude:

God called Jacob to become Israel when he left everyone in his camp for some time alone (Gen. 32).

Moses encountered God when he was alone, in the burning bush (Ex. 3) and on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 19).

God called to Samuel only when he left Eli and was alone (1 Sam. 3).

Elijah couldn't hear God's soft whisper until he was separated from other turmoil (1 Ki. 19).

John received his great Revelation when he was alone on Patmos. (Rev. 1)

This Christmas season, make sure you set some time aside for just you and God!