Encounter With Our God

Solitude is the place of encounter. We go into “the desert” to encounter our self and all the emotions that live below the surface of our lives. And we go to encounter our enemy and get free of our heart’s entanglement with the world, the flesh, and the devil. 

But ultimately, we go into the quiet to encounter God. We go because we ache for God in the deepest place in our being. We go because there is nothing like God’s presence. We go to listen for his voice, to hear him speak over us our identity and calling.

The back and forth of speaking and listening to God is the heart not only of communication, but of communion with God. As important as it is to receive our identity and calling as a gift from God’s hand, ultimately, the most important thing that happens in solitude is that we love and are loved by God.

Below you will find steps to help you engage with this practice, as well as resources for further exploration.

Ways to engage with the Solitude Practice

• First and foremost, this practice (and all practices) are meant to be done in community. If you haven't yet, find a small group of people that are commited to walking through this practice together. 

• Download the Solitude Practice Guide. If you can, it is advised to print it out to reduce the distraction of our devices (Especially with this practice). 

• Gather with your group once a week to watch the Practicing the Way video found below. This will include questions for discussion, as well as a short teaching on that week's practice.

• Step into each practice as much as you are able and feel comfortable to. This invitation is for everyone at all stages of life and faith. 

• Reflect on your experience of the practice using the reflection questions at the bottom of the guide and be prepared to share them the next time you gather with your group.

Recommended Reading

Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton (Chapters 10-12)

Rule of Life Podcast

Solitude Practice Week 4

Solitude Practice Guide

Download the practice guide here

Week 4 Practice - Listening prayer

This exercise is built on the theological truth that your body is the “temple of the Holy Spirit”; the Spirit of God has direct access to your mind and imagination. He can interject his thoughts into your thoughts and his desires into your desires. Learning to make space for this to happen, and to discern his voice from all the other voices in our head, is a key task of discipleship to Jesus.

The exercise itself is very simple.

• Find a quiet, distraction-free time and place, put away your phone, and get comfortable.

• Take a few minutes to just breathe deeply, in and out. You may want to simply say “Father” or “Come, Holy Spirit” as you inhale each breath. Let yourself slow down.

• When you’re ready to begin, ask God to silence the voice of the enemy, to clear out of your mind and the air around you any voices that are not the voice of God.

• Then, ask God to speak to you. This can be as simple as praying, “God, please speak to me.” or “God, is there anything you want to say to me?”

• Finally, open your mind and heart to God’s Spirit and listen.

  • What comes to mind may be:

    • A passage of Scripture

    • A word or phrase

    • A thought or feeling

• Discern. It’s very important that you test everything you “hear” against Scripture and in community. Don’t be afraid to check it against the Bible, talk to your pastor, or share it with other followers of Jesus. This is the practice of discernment, and it’s something we do together

Week 4 Reflection Questions

Before your next time together with the group, take five minutes to journal out your answers to the following three questions about the practice:

• How did your practice of solitude go this week?

• Where did you experience resistance in solitude?

• In what ways did you encounter God in solitude?