I used to really hate to sit in silence, to be alone. I don’t think it was fear as much as it just wasn’t my nature. I don’t hate it anymore because I now understand its benefits and its power. I still don’t ever look forward to it. I always love it though when it’s over. Not because it’s over, but because it’s always good.
It’s often good for different reasons.
Sometimes it’s just because I was quiet and thoughtful.
Sometimes it’s because I accomplished something that was a healthy balance to my normal pace.
Sometimes I hear the voice of God. I see something clearly for the first time. I recognize something about myself. Sometimes it’s something good. Sometimes it’s something ugly that I see needs to change. The cool part is when I am quiet and that happens, I’m already with the One whose help I need. So I ask and know that I am heard.
You may hate being quiet and alone but you ought to give it a try. If you have, tell me what happened.
I know there are those out there that actually REALLY look forward to being quiet and alone. I wonder what happens in that time for you.
Griff
It’s often good for different reasons.
Sometimes it’s just because I was quiet and thoughtful.
Sometimes it’s because I accomplished something that was a healthy balance to my normal pace.
Sometimes I hear the voice of God. I see something clearly for the first time. I recognize something about myself. Sometimes it’s something good. Sometimes it’s something ugly that I see needs to change. The cool part is when I am quiet and that happens, I’m already with the One whose help I need. So I ask and know that I am heard.
You may hate being quiet and alone but you ought to give it a try. If you have, tell me what happened.
I know there are those out there that actually REALLY look forward to being quiet and alone. I wonder what happens in that time for you.
Griff
7 comments:
I am naturally a quiet person, so it is not a love/hate relationship about quiet time. It is that I fear time alone with God sometimes, yet I crave it like water. When God and I am alone, there is an abundant peace and joy. It gives me time to truly worship our creator and just to interact.
There are times when I have trouble visualizing God, so I put a chair in front of me and talk to the chair so I am not alone.
The chair is a great idea. I know sometimes people who don't get the "God speaking" thing think I am a little strange. They would really think we were strange if they knew we talked to empty chairs. Of course, they are only empty in a physical sense. Man, We sound like we should be in the next Matrix movie.
Thanks for your thoughts. That might really help someone get started with some solitude.
Griff
I am just getting back in church after years of trying to make it through life on my own. The idea of quiet time with God had never occured to me until this past Sunday when you discussed it and I was eager to give it a try.
I spent my first "official" quiet time with God yesterday morning. I live in Lexington and the interstate is just beyond my back yard. As I sat on my bed in silence, I was able to hear the simple sound of birds outside my home. That simple, everyday sound filled me with the sense that God was with me. It changed the way I went about my entire day. Needless to say, I am looking forward to more silent time with God in the future.
What a concept to discuss in this world of noise that we live in. Silence is golden for me. Unfortunately I don't get enough of it. When I do, it is amazing. Sometimes I just sit in my car and turn the radio off. In the silence I immediately feel calmer. I can feel my nerves relax. My ears tingle some as though missing the noise. I breathe deep and long. Willing my body to ease into the seat. Sometimes I do this too in bed when I am going to sleep. Same thing. I try to feel each inch of my body and how the sheets feel on it. It is amazing to know that you can feel each inch of your body. During this time I let my mind wander. More times than not I am hearing Gods messages come to me. It is like tapping into His email. The messages come one by one. I crave this time. I know that I need to do it more often. I will try to put that into practice more this week. I don't recall ever being afraid of it or disliking it. I remember being a kid lying on a picnic table looking up at the stars. Just me and the sky at one. God laying all around me.
It really takes an effort to find quiet and to take full advantage of it. Some people call it meditation but for me it is just a rest. A rest that you can't get by sleeping. It recharges me. Like gas in a tank. I can shrug off the momentum of the day and look at the moment for what it is. I truly believe that if more people were to do this, anxiety medication would not be all over the t.v.
Thank you Griff, for reminding us of the little things we need.
I love how Ms. Holly described it as rest. and totally agree if we did this more often anxiety meds would be a lot less needed.
I think what we are seeing is that solitude is a state of mind, but one that is not easily achieved nor maintained. It's also dangerous to say it is a state of mind because some of us won't do the necessary work of being still in order to give His Spirit a chance to speak.
Both Amanda and Ms. Holly shared that it is about God's presence with you.
For people like me, high strung, who like to always be going and are always pushing limitations NEED solitude badly even though it is not natural for us.
We need it to be mindful and still and let the sediment settle so we see a little clearer. Being in His presence is truly peace giving.
Griff
Griff,
I have found through practice that solitude is not always needed. Remember when you were young, well you might do it now, and you were watching tv. You were so into the show that someone could say your name and you never heard it? Hone that skill and solitude is wherever you are. Obviously you have to be careful when and where you practice this honing. Your wife or kids may get upset if you try to tune them out. But seriously, it is a gift. It is not an ideal setting, trying to be alone with things going on around you, but it can be accomplished. For example; I work in an environment that there is always a lot of noise of one kind or another. I will sit at my desk, close my eyes, and picture myself kneeling at the foot of the cross. I imagine Jesus looking down at me with a grin. Here I will praise him, thank him, and ask him to hold me. I ask for peace and comfort. He gives it to me.
This is a very very busy world full of sounds and chaos. It can be very disturbing. There are a lot of people like you that have a hard time sitting down, I am one of them. Like anything else, when you need it bad enough you will seek it. If the rewards are great enough you will look for it often.
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