Solitude Quote of Day

"Solitude is the furnace of transformation. Without solitude we remain victims of our society and continue to be entangled in the illusions of the false self…. Solitude is not a private therapeutic place. Rather, it is the place of conversion, the place where the old self dies and the new self is born, the place where the emergence of the new man and the new woman occurs."

- HENRI NOUWEN, (The Way of the Heart)

Mark 1:35 (NLT)

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated

place to pray.


Solitude and silence are “soul food” that help open us to God’s presence. Here’s

the “simple SOLITUDE CHALLENGE” I mentioned in worship yesterday:



A SIMPLE “SOLITUDE” CHALLENGE:

  • Set aside 10 MINUTES a day to practice solitude and silence (if you CAN’T do 10 – do FIVE).
  • Being STILL or being SILENT will FEEL LIKE AN ETERNITY. But IT GETS BETTER THE MORE YOU DO IT.
  • DON’T “DO” ANYTHING – this is not “prayer time” or Bible study time”. Just sit QUIETLY and COMFORTABLY with God. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor and with hands on your legs.
  • It’s common for our minds to wander; this is because our minds are overstimulated and seldom given a “break”. WHEN you realize you’ve chased something down a “rabbit hole” – just COME BACK into the present moment and sit silently with God AGAIN until the time is over. A phrase from Scripture like The LORD is my shepherd OR I believe; help my unbelief can help us refocus. Be prepared to do this “reset” often. Being distracted is normal.
  • You may want to visualize Jesus wrapping his arms around you and holding you as you sit.