Towards A Closer Walk With God By Trevor HudsonSýnishorn

In Solitude, Silence and Stillness

Desert spaces are places of solitude, silence and stillness. Without these three things it is nearly impossible to grow a listening life with God. Let us think briefly about each of them. 

We move into solitude when we carve out some space and time to be alone with God. We become silent when we do not speak, and become attentive to what is happening around and within us. We experience stillness when we calm our busy thoughts and grow in an awareness of God’s presence in our hearts (see Psalm 46:10). These ingredients all need to be present if we want to learn to listen to God. 

When we speak about the need to practice solitude, silence and stillness, we must remind ourselves that we are not seeking to escape or run away from life. Rather, we will discover that they lead us into a greater and more effective engagement with life. We begin to live with a far deeper consciousness of God with us through the day. This is one reason why Jesus regularly withdrew into the solitude, silence and stillness of the desert.

Withdraw to the solitude of your “desert space”. Enter into a few minutes of silence and stillness. Be gentle with yourself as you seek to do this—it seldom happens easily. When you are quiet within, slowly read the story of Jesus’ desert temptations a couple of times (refer to Matthew 4:1–11). Then ask yourself two questions: What is God saying to me through this story? and How will I respond? Share your thoughts and feelings about these questions with God in prayer.