Nic Smith

This week Nic preached a great message and showed us the example of Jesus living a life of solitude and spending time with His Father as we celebrated Palm Sunday.

The practice of silence and solitude is not a command, rather, it’s an invitation. The definition is intentional time in the quiet with yourself and God. Solitude is not loneliness, as loneliness is wanting human contact yet feeling alone. Isolation is not solitude either, as it is segregation and withdrawal, this is what you will experience when you neglect to spend time with God.

Mother Theresa said: “We need to find God and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence”.

In Jesus time on earth, he demonstrates solitude over and over in the Bible: Mark 1:35, Luke 4:42, Matthew 14:13, Luke 5:16. The higher Jesus profile became, the more time He spent alone with God in solitude, He was able to retreat to return. Martin Luther King also retreated while being under attack, he spoke to God, and heard a reply from God saying he should stand up for justice, as his fears dissolved after speaking to God.

Rhythms of solitude:

1. Go into Solitude – Jesus had many times where He left the crowd and spent time with God. “Sit here while I go and pray over there”: Matthew 26:36
2. Feel your feelings – Tell God how you feel, give him access to your fears, hurt, He’s not shocked by it. “He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death”: Matthew 26:38
3. Give God your desires – tell Him exactly what you want “Oh my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me”: Matthew 26:39
4. Give God your trust – “Never the less, not as I will, but as You will”: Matthew 26:39