Do You Know The Benefits of Solitude and Silence?

Do You Know The Benefits of Solitude and Silence?

 

Good Morning Friends,

 

Early in the morning is a good time to celebrate the discipline of solitude, a time to build up, a new season in the sound of silence…This experience of the sound of silence is in many of the Psalms as a Selah and so too in prayer. It is instructive that Jesus spent time in quiet contemplation. He probably had a regular routine but scripture points out several instances of intense silence and solitude. The first example is at the start of his ministry when he fasted and before he was tempted by the devil. Jesus also did it before choosing the disciples and after hearing of John the Baptist’s death and before the transfiguration and other significant events. He would go away for a time of prayer before having to confront crowds that were seeking his attention. And then perhaps the most poignant, Jesus spends time in solitude before his own death. Yes, there is a season to silence. Do You Know The Benefits of Solitude and Silence?

 

Scripture: a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 

Ecclesiastes 3:7 (NIV)

 

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

 

Psalm 34:15 (KJV)

 

For God alone my soul waits in silence. . . . Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

 

Psalm 62:5, 8 (NRSV)

 

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.

 

Matthew 4:1-2 (NRSV)

 

But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.

 

Luke 5:15-16 (NRSV)

 

Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:

 

Luke 6:12-13 (NRSV)

 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. [Selah] There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah] Come, behold the works of the LORD; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah]

 

Psalm 46:1-11 (NRSV)

 

Message: In worldly relationships there is often the experience of a core of silence centered on a question that is not asked. We are told not to talk about politics, sex and religion for these subjects expose the nature of our degenerate, divided and delivered hearts. The questions and the answers are guarded so as not to shame another or to draw blame on oneself. For we all are sinners. Yet it is here that in Christian love, if we have learned to love, that this convention of civility allows the truth to be shared without words from our mouths but from our hearts. Here we can read the truth of life as silent words of testimony. Silence is seldom desired in our society. We try to fill every moment with noise. Yet scripture holds silence in high esteem. Scripture calls us to silence. I figure that silence and solitude are essential for any disciple seeking God. And don’t think that just because we are silent for a time we are not engaged. Perhaps it is just the opposite. God is always there nudging us to learn in the discipline of listening.  I believe there is great value in seeking silence and solitude in our lives. In this fast paced world – it is not uncommon for most of us to miss tranquil times of quiet. Many of us always seem to be in a rush. Jesus used silence and solitude quite a bit during His life and ministry. He did not get away by Himself just get away from people. He used silence and solitude as a means of getting closer to God and minister more effectively to people. He wanted a close relationship with the Father. He wanted to hear that “still small voice” of The Father speak to Him. He sought solitude and silence so that He could hear God’s voice clearer. So too we, to be ready to face the stuff of life, need to build up a relationship with God that is a firm anchor for our soul in the storms of life. It starts in the practice of silence and solitude. Here we listen for the feeling and receive strength and gain a greater trust in God and are invited into a deeper relationship with God. Friends, know the importance of seeking time alone with God. Know, as Mother Teresa point out, that the fruit of SILENCE is Prayer. The fruit of PRAYER is Faith. The fruit of FAITH is Love. The fruit of LOVE is Service. The Fruit of SERVICE is Peace.

 
 

Pray we learn to face life with God’s help. Pray we strain to hear the softness of His voice. Pray we realize that our security is in God, not the clutter and noise of the world. Pray that we realize our security is in our faith not our sense of safety in the bombardment of the media. Pray that we realize our security is in the future not our present circumstances. Pray that even though life is dangerous, that life is good. Pray we realize that God is always listening to us. Pray we rejoice in the sounds of the words of love, comfort, guidance, correction found in scripture. Pray we get away from the noises of stress in order to be alone with God. Pray we not fear loneliness in the silence. Pray we not fear seeing ourselves more clearly. Pray we not fear seeing God more clearly. Pray we draw closer to God so that He can help us improve our appreciation of others. Pray we allow God to speak to us for He has been listening a very long time. Pray that in our times of solitude and silence we soak in the image of Jesus. Pray that the silence of God leads us to repentance. Pray that the silence of God lead us to restoration. Pray that the silence of God leads us to rely and trust more on His character. Pray
we realize that silence is not always tender. Pray our time of silence and solitude with God helps us to resist temptation and gain a closer relationship. Pray we stay with God even in the silence. Pray we discover that sometimes God’s silence is our opportunity to speak up.

 

 

Blessings,

 

John Lawson