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Tag: solitude

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Seeking Stillness & Solitude

I originally wrote this for the Arise Newsletter, Volume 2 Issue 7 | July 2020. Arise is an organization for ordained women ministers in the Church of God. The video was a result of the following article.

“Many Christians have so busied themselves with programs and activities that they no longer know how to be silent and meditate on God’s word or recognize the mysteries that are in the Person of Christ.” 

Ravi Zacharias

About two years ago, while on staff at Salem Church of God, we were wrapping up a Gravity discipleship course with Kristan Dooley. As a result, I felt God call me to deepen my roots.  Unfortunately there were times my quiet time was something I looked at as something I would check off my “to do”  list. I saw it as something “To do” rather than “to BE” with Jesus. 

I knew God was calling me to a deeper relationship with him. I knew God was calling me to Stillness.. To BE with Him. One verse kept coming back to me.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

Psalm 46:10 (nlt)

I realized I was really good at “doing” but not good at “being”.  I struggled to spend ten minutes alone with God. I sensed something had to change. I no longer wanted to be so busy working for God, that I didn’t know God. And I realized that being busy for God, could make me miss out on what He really wanted for me. Was it possible I could do God’s work, yet miss out on what he truly wanted me to do? Was I listening?

Busy-ness makes us look like the rest of our culture. You cannot hear God if you’re too busy to listen. Busy-ness causes us to take matters into our own hands instead of giving it to God. Instead, God calls us to be still.

“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.”  

Psalm 27:14 (nlt)

Sitting in stillness and silence was such a new thing for me. There are times when it is still difficult. But It has changed my relationship with God more than I could ever imagine. I encourage you to take a few minutes of your prayer time to just be still and quiet. Listen to God’s love for you. Remember—GOD loves you and cares for you more than you can ever imagine! 

If you are looking for ways to quiet yourself and be still, here are some simple steps for you to try. 

  • Find a comfortable place to sit and be still
  • Concentrate on your breathing
  • Inhale then exhale.  
  • Notice your body relaxing
  • Feel God’s presence

It may take you a few days to get comfortable with this. At first, your mind will race to the things you need to do for that day. Keep at it! I promise you will come to a place where you start to crave this stillness. Remember, God wants to BE with you more than he wants you to DO. Take time to be with him!

Here are a few resources I have found helpful. 

Books

  • An Invitation to Retreat by Ruth Haley Barton
  • Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero
  • Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
  • Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
  • Soul Keeping by John Ortberg
  • Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton

Podcasts

  • Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with Ruth Haley Barton
  • The Emotionally Healthy Leader Podcast with Pete Scazzero

Apps

  • Centering Prayer
  • Pray As You Go
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How to Eliminate Hurry

I was listening to The Ziglar Show Podcast with Kevin Miller the other day while on my daily walk. Miller interviewed John Mark Comer about his recent book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. Comer was leading a megachurch that was running six services each Sunday in the Portland, Oregon area. He was finding himself burnt out and unconnected with the people around him when he reached out to a mentor for advice. His mentor shared “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. There is nothing else.” Out of that, his book was born. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: Staying Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in Our Current Chaos.  

John Mark shared that he believes “Hurry is incompatible with love, joy, and peace that are at the center of Jesus’ vision for life in the Kingdom of God.” 

In this podcast, Kevin and John Mark discuss four key practices we can begin using to eliminate hurry: 

  • Silence and Solitude
  • Sabbath
  • Simplicity
  • Slowing 

I have been working on these four practices for about a year now. I still have a long way to go. Some days are difficult. I haven’t “mastered” these four practices, yet I find myself desiring to live a life more centered on Jesus. 

I would encourage you, especially during the COVID19 Crisis, to take some time and begin to slow down. Spend time in solitude and silence – choose a time of day and find a place to “Be Still”. Take time to delight in the Sabbath rest. What would happen if you would unplug from your phone for 24 hours?  Living simply shouldn’t be too difficult right now with school and all activities put on hold. How could you start to eliminate hurry in your life?