The Loop

If you work a job, raise kids, maintain a home and vehicles, pay bills, have a spouse and friends… or have numerous other things that keep you busy, it can be difficult to hear what God is saying to you.

What comes to mind when you hear the word solitude? Do you think of loneliness, or do you think of time with God? If you’re an introvert, the word might put a smile on your face, on the other hand, if you’re an extrovert, you might want to run away. Whatever your situation, I can promise you solitude is a matter worth exploring. Hello, my name is Kyle, and I don’t like to be alone. The thought of sitting alone, in silence, was intimidating. That is, until God broke the silence.

I’m not here to tell you how to practice solitude; there are hundreds of books that already claim to have the winning formula. What I will tell you is that it’s different for everyone. It wasn’t until I decided to use a format that was tailored to my own daily routine that solitude became a habit. No one could know what format I needed but me. The same is true for you. With that said, an honorable mention is John Mark Comer’s free four-week study on solitude. That’s where I got my start. 

What is solitude? Simply put, it’s a place where transformation happens. It’s a place where you can concentrate on what God is saying. It’s a place void of worldly distractions. 

Before finding my solitude routine, I thought I had a good relationship with God. By most standards, I did. I read scripture, I prayed, I talked to God, I, I, I… wait, oops, did I forget to let God in on all of this? Did I take control instead of letting Him, the creator of the universe, speak? If you’ve ever felt like you were having a one-sided conversation with God (one where you’re doing all the talking), you’re not alone. But, solitude is the answer. Add in a bit of silence and you’ve got the perfect opportunity to hear God speak into your life. 

Several months into my routine, I have found myself consistently hearing God speak into my life. No more one-sided conversations. I speak, and then I ask, “what do you have for me today?” Instantly, I receive a reply. God is a much better communicator than we are. He can get the point across with a word, a phrase, or an image. We see proof of this in Genesis 1, “And God said, ‘let there be light’". Four words. Next, we read, “and there was light”. Why would he need more words to communicate with us?

Solitude has become the most important habit I’ve formed. Without it, I’m not able to hear God clearly in the midst of all the distractions. When I hear the word solitude what comes to mind is time intentionally set aside for God every day. I know that it will involve sharing my feelings, desires, and appreciation with and for Him. In my solitude, I will talk to God and listen in silence. He will give me a word, phrase, or imagery and lead me to scripture. I will leave solitude better prepared for my day, feeling the connection with God that I (we all) so desperately need.

We were made to enjoy this connection with God daily. We see Jesus leading by example many times:

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16 NIV

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 NIV

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” Luke 6:12 NIV

And there are many more examples throughout the Gospels. So, if Jesus, the Son of God, the most perfect man to ever walk this Earth, needed solitude with God the Father, how much more do we need it?

Friends, I pray that you can find a routine that works for your life. Connecting with God isn’t hard. He puts up no walls; he’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; he doesn’t take holidays or PTO. So, ask yourself, "When can I schedule a daily meeting with God"? Put it on your work and your personal calendars. Set those reminders and enter a sacred place with God in solitude.

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