Scripture
Week 01: Silence & Solitude
On one occasion Luke tells us that "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Lk. 5:16). The word translated as "lonely place" is the Greek word erēmos. It means desert, solitary place, lonely place, or quiet place. The idea is that Jesus often went to a place where he could be alone with the Father. It was his regular practice to go to the lonely place (erēmos) to be alone with God.
In our modern time, it can be difficult to be alone from people, distractions, our iPhones, and the constant buzz of life. We are continually surrounded by noise and distractions, making it difficult to be with God. If we are going to be people of scripture, we must first learn to be with God. We need to first learn to make space for God. Like Jesus, we must learn to get alone with God in the quiet place.
The practice for the week: We simply want to start our day with five minutes in the lonely place (erēmos) with God. It may be easier for you to do mid-day or in the evening. That's great too! However, for most people, it is easiest to be alone and alert first thing in the morning (good coffee helps!).
01 – Make Space. Choose a time and place where you can be alone with God. Place your phone or any distractions away from you in another room.
02 – Read. Take 2 minutes to read a Psalm, a verse, or a quote from Jesus. This will help you set your mind on God. For this week we are suggesting you read Luke 10:38-42.
03 – Set a Timer. Take the next 3 minutes to be still before God. To start, simply pray "Come, Holy Spirit." Don't worry if nothing happens. The goal is not to be productive. The goal is to be with God or to "waste time with Jesus". You can bring to mind Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus and focus on your breathing if that helps.
04 – Be with Jesus. Spend those three minutes being with Jesus. Let him love you, welcome you, and even speak to you. If distractions come to mind, don't be discouraged. That’s normal. Just bring your mind back to Jesus. Allow yourself to simply enjoy being with him.
Our recommendation is to start each day this week practicing silence and solitude. As you start, remember that consistency is more important than intensity. Please don’t try to start with 15 minutes. Start small and stay consistent. As we begin our way of life we want to start by creating space for God in our lives. We will build on this foundation in the coming weeks.
Recommended reading: How to Hear God: A Simple Guide for Normal People