You may have heard the term “spiritual discipline” before, and today we’re unpacking one that can be tough in an ever-connected world: solitude.
(By the way, some of this content is inspired by Dallas Willard’s book, “The Spirit of the Disciplines.” Check it out to learn more!)
But first, why do spiritual disciplines matter?
Well, when we want to learn about pretty much anything as it relates to how to live our lives, we can look to the life of Jesus as an example. No matter what He did, Jesus was at home with God… always. And how did He manage to do that?
Dallas says Jesus accomplished this constant two-way relationship through disciplines He committed to on earth. These are disciplines like fasting, sacrifice, worship, and like we’re discussing today, solitude.
In solitude, we close ourselves away. We go to the ocean, or the desert, or the wild. We aren’t just withdrawing to rest, but rather we are choosing to be alone. To dwell on our experience of isolation from other people.
Now… Why would we want to do that? Why separate ourselves from the phones and the friends and the family and the shows and the constant go-go-go of life?
The more obvious reason is that Jesus modeled it for us. The first thing He did after being baptized was to withdraw from society for 40 days. Picture that. 40 days all alone, with nothing but your thoughts and God’s presence.
Maybe a less obvious answer as to why we should practice solitude is that it helps us derive strength. It cuts out the noise. It helps us focus on the Lord.
When Jesus came out of the wilderness, many wrongly interpreted Him as being weak. Actually… The truth is, He was in a position of great strength from having spent focused time with the Father.
And that’s what we’re after, too.
Today, consider practicing solitude. Pick a time, pick a place. Pick prayer topics to have at the ready. And most importantly, commit to honoring the practice to its fullest.
Remember, the main thing isn’t what you do; it’s what you don’t do. Be sure that you don’t talk to people, enter into any conversation of any kind, or consume media (however tempting it may be!). Just simply pay attention to what is happening in your body, and talk to God about it. Ask Him, “God, can I be at home with you today?”
Curious to learn more about spiritual disciplines? Click below to get access to the original series, Home, or you can check out the episode on solitude here.
