Pursuing Our Destiny, Part 7—The Discipline of Solitude

The Jesus was led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Mt. 4:1, ESV).

If you have been following this series of posts, perhaps you remember the disciplines of abstinence: solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy, and sacrifice.  With a desire to pursue our destiny—to become living images of Jesus (Romans 8:29)—we’re learning that practicing what Jesus practiced is key to the pursuit.

For the next several weeks, I invite you to join me in looking at these disciplines. To be more than just human effort, these practices must be Spirit-driven.  I urge to seek God’s mind concerning the disciplines most needed in your life.  Through prayer, listening, and reflection, allow God’s Spirit to speak into your heart which one or two or three disciplines should get you started.  If you choose this path to spiritual growth, you’ll discover the need for different disciplines at different times in your life.  It isn’t an all or none journey!

The first discipline for most people is solitude.  The verse I used in the heading from Matthew lets us know that forty days of solitude prepared Jesus for his public ministry.  Think forward about three years, and you’ll remember the last thing Jesus did before he was arrested.  He went into the garden, leaving his disciples for enough away that he was alone—in solitude—and prayed to his Father.  He prepared for the worst day of his earthly life in solitude.

Dallas Willard defines solitude as our decision to “purposefully abstain from interaction with other human beings, denying ourselves companionship and all that comes from our conscious interaction with others.”  He goes on to say, “Solitude is choosing to be alone and to dwell on our experience of isolation from other human beings.”

Solitude frees us from all our entanglements with day-to-day life.  Whether our solitude is for an hour, a day, or a week, it detaches us from the clutter that comes with life, and gives us time and space to listen for God’s voice, and opens us to an eternal perspective.  Solitude allows our souls to settle, to live in a different rhythm.

How can we get solitude in the midst of all our responsibilities?  Perhaps you can get up a little earlier and have some solitude before everyone gets up.  I’ve done this for years, and it continues to be the best hour of my day.  Sometimes I read.  Sometimes I pray.  Sometimes I just sit quietly and listen.  If you have any kind of long commute to work, choose to leave the radio turned off.  Enjoy the quietness of your “alone time” in the car.  Invite God to travel with you and ask Him to be at work in your life during the quiet solitude.  Offer Him the time and the freedom to speak into your life.

Willard says that, “of all the disciplines of abstinence, solitude is generally the most fundamental in the beginning of the spiritual life, and it must be returned to again and again as that life develops.”

I’ve learned that solitude is the starting place; it prepares us for everything else.  If you’re ready to start pursuing your destiny, the spiritual discipline of solitude, connected with time in God’s Word, is the place to start.  Let me know if there is any way I can encourage you in getting started; Bill Welte will forward any emails to me, and I’ll be glad to be in touch. – Pastor John Strain is retired and available for pulpit supply. He now blogs weekly for Freedom Fighter

Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 19-21; Acts 5:1-21

Quote of the day: Could it be that one reason we have great problems is that God wants to show us great solutions? He longs to show us the riches of His grace and the poverty of our own resources. Prayer is uniquely designed to demonstrate both truths.David Jeremiah

Verse to Memorize: “Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your word gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:129-130 ESV