SOLITUDE IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

Ron Bainbridge

Today’s Message of Encouragement from Discovering A BETTER LIFE MINISTRIES

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(Ron Bainbridge Editor) (March 2nd, 2020)

SOLITUDE IS ESSENTIAL

FOR OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

Friends, unfortunately, in this 21st century, too many Christians are caught up with a frenzy of activities which, although all important, are increasingly demanding our time and energy and causing us to be driven along at great speed to fulfill the tasks at hand.

As a result, many of us can become ineffective witnesses for Jesus. Too often, we take pride in explaining to each other about our busyness, but feel vaguely guilty if we relax. However, our God did not intend for His people to live in a state of perpetual hurry.

As we read through the pages of the Bible, it becomes very clear that God wants each of His children to take time out for solitude to find rest, refreshment, and new strength for our body and soul.

In Exodus 20:8-11, we read where God commands His people to observe times of physical and spiritual refreshment. In Psalm 23, the psalmist reminds us that “The Lord is our shepherd; who lets us rest in green meadows; He leads us beside peaceful streams. He renews our strength.”

In the gospel of Mark, we read that toward the end of Jesus’ first year of public ministry, which had been filled with teaching, preaching, and compassionate healing, He was in an exhausted state and His physical, mental, and spiritual resources had become drained. We read in Mark 1:35 that, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and departed into a solitary place. And there He prayed.”

The Greek word used in this instance, eremos, (er-ay-mos), implies a lonesome, desert, desolate, solitary, wilderness place. What Mark reveals to us, is that Jesus went to a place where there were no people.

In fact, throughout His ministry, Jesus often went to places where He could be alone, to concentrate on praying to His Father in order to regain His spiritual energy (Mark 6:46; 14:32-ff; John 17; Luke 5:16).

It comes to my mind, that if we busy Christians follow the example of Jesus, (who is our Lord), take time out for solitude, we will experience the rest and refreshment of His presence, as He relieves our burdens and leads us in a life of peace and rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

However, solitude is not simply a quiet time and place. It is not only a matter of stilling the many inner voices so that we can come to a point of quietness and inner peace.

Solitude is much more than that! It is in essence a withdrawal from the pressures and stresses of life in order to experience a greater intimacy with our Father in heaven, who normally gets crowded out of our lives.

Obviously, as children of God, we can be with Him in our active serving. We can be with God in our corporate worship and we can be with God through attentive study of the Scriptures. But in a place of solitude, we are with God in a different way. We are there not so much to be blessed, but as the psalmist states in Psalm 46:10,to “Cease striving and recognize God….”

In solitude, we not only come to peace and quietness, but also to a new attentiveness. We are not there to get, nor to give, but to be attentive. Solitude helps us to practice the presence of God as attentive listeners and as companions who are at peace in each other’s company.

The discipline of solitude makes us more sensitive to the good in people, as well as making us more aware of their needs and concerns (Philippians 2:3-4).

Alongside of this, our Father in heaven, who probes our deepest thoughts during lengthy times of solitude, helps us come to terms with the superficial things we are too often engaged in, as He opens our eyes to the important things that need attention, and we determine in our hearts that it will stop.

The psalmist David realized our need for in-depth examination. In fact, he invited God’s laser-like probe into the innermost chambers of his heart and thoughts (Psalm 139:1-4, 23-24).

The apostle Paul was equally committed to solitude and self-analysis. Without hesitation he admonished the Corinthian church for their shameful sham at the Lord’s Table when they met corporately (1 Corinthians 11:17-22).

Following those words of rebuke, Paul then instructed the Corinthian church to spend more time in solitude and personal, unassisted self-examination before the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:28-31).

In this 21stcentury, I believe it is time for the Lord’s church to discipline ourselves to pull back from our meaningless talk, cliché-ridden responses, and mindless activities. The body of Christ was never meant to be that way; but, more often than not, that’s the way it is. To break the habit, solitude is required and the hard work of self-examination on a frequent basis is absolutely essential.

In Mark 6:30-32, we read that when the disciples of Jesus had returned from the mission he had earlier sent them on, that although He appreciated their hard work and faithful labours during the time they were away, He saw their need for rest and reflection.

Jesus was well-acquainted with the draining influence of “many people coming and going,” so He encouraged them to slip away into a boat and sailed with them to “a lonely place.” Why? So they could be in a place “by themselves” for a time of rest. Clearly, Jesus saw the value of solitude . . . the need for escape from activity.

Friend, may each of us carefully plan our times of solitude, that we may be more effective servants for our Saviour, by guarding against things that disconnect us from a deeper intimacy with our Father in heaven. Obviously sin will do that, but so will weariness.

We can’t remain connected to God if we are weighed down by busyness. In fact, we can spend so much time doing things for God that we neglect our relationship with Him.

Jesus said, “You cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me” (John 15:4). That means finding a place of solitude, reading the Bible, praying and resting in His presence.

Friend, if ever there was an age that needed the practice of solitude and silence, in order to find our peace in Christ Jesus, IT IS NOW!

If you’d like some further reassurance of what I’ve shared with you today, I encourage you to write for our two FREE booklets that reveal more about the God who cares for you.

To receive your copies of “How to find God” and “WHERE TROUBLE CAN’T HURT YOU”, write to Discovering A BETTER LIFE, P.O. Box 1540, Albany, Western Australia 6331. Telephone us on: (08) 98 418 418.