Solitude & Silenceნიმუში

Have you been practicing solitude and silence with me these past few days? How has the experience been for you? Have you uncovered anything new about the fears or desires in your heart?

Maybe you’re hesitant about the whole idea, or perhaps you feel silly doing it and think, “This might work for others, but not for me“. That’s completely normal.

Resistance is to be expected when you step into a new spiritual discipline, especially one like solitude and silence. Why? Because you enter into a spiritual battle. All the forces of evil will band together to prevent you from moving into peace, trust and knowing God.

“Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation, and loneliness. You will see that the world is not on your shoulders after all”.
– Dallas Willard

The devil will always try everything within his power to keep you from moving closer to God and experiencing all the good things He has for you.

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him“. Lamentations 3:25-26,28

Doubt and resistance often flare up right when you are about to enter into solitude and silence. Remember: firstly, the devil wouldn’t fight so hard if this practice weren’t powerful, and secondly, your desire for God–the very desire that drew you into this new spiritual practice–is greater than your doubts and fears.

Keep pressing in! 💪🏼

Let’s continue practising:

1. Settle into a comfortable yet alert position. For example, sit down with open hands, but don’t lie down and risk falling asleep.
2. Eliminate distractions. Turn off your phone, music, etc.
3. Set a modest goal—it is harder than you think! Set a 10 or 15-minute timer to start.
4. Ask God to give you a simple prayer phrase, for example, “Here I am”. Repeat that sentence to refocus on God when your mind wanders.
5. Close with the Lord’s prayer and resist judging your time by how much you felt or experienced.

Hey! You are a Chamatkar.

Jenny Mendes