Monday, October 9, 2017 “A Portable Sanctuary of the Heart:” The Discipline of Solitude, Part 1 (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

Monday, October 9, 2017

“A Portable Sanctuary of the Heart:” The Discipline of Solitude, Part 1 (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

“We can cultivate an inner solitude and silence that sets us free from loneliness and fear. Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment. (Foster, Richard J.. Celebration of Discipline: The Path To Spiritual Growth (p. 96). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.)

“Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together titled one of his chapters “The Day Together” and the following chapter “The Day Alone.” Both are essential for spiritual success. He writes, “Let him who cannot be alone beware of community…. Let him who is not in community beware of being alone…. Each by itself has profound pitfalls and perils. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair.” 2 Therefore, we must seek out the recreating stillness of solitude if we want to be with others meaningfully. We must seek the fellowship and accountability of others if we want to be alone safely. We must cultivate both if we are to live in obedience. (Foster, Richard J.. Celebration of Discipline: The Path To Spiritual Growth (pp. 97-98). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.)”

Scripture:

Luke 6:12

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Matthew 14:23

And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

Mark 6:31

And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

Devotional:
Solitude. It may not be exactly what we are thinking! As in all of the beautiful disciplines of our amazing faith, solitude requires that we seek balance. Pastor Foster paints stark word pictures of our modern culture as a place where we seek noise to avoid being alone. In the almost 40 years since the publication of this book, we have become even more attached to devices and more distanced from one another by mediated living through smart phones and online presences. Isolation is not solitude, and solitude is not the avoidance of human connection. I am a little bit shy—I am a person who loves people but can’t always make sense of social situations 😊 It would be really easy for me to isolate and call it “solitude.” My daughter is extremely social, and at age 3 began what will likely be a lifelong PR campaign for what friend she can spend time with today. Both tendencies can be cultivated in a healthy way or taken out of proportion and made an idol in our lives. Taking time to walk away from the many stimuli of our modern culture to seek the Lord creates a space within us so that our interactions with others are more connecting. We are not seeking their approval, because we know we are His and beloved of Him. We have spent time alone in His Presence and received His acceptance and approval. Also, fellowship with others creates an accountability and safety for our solitude. I am so thankful that God continues to pull us in for this kind of balance in our lives.

Prayer:

Thanksgiving:

Lord, I thank You for the time I get to spend in solitude with You. I love Your heart for me and give You praise for Who You are.

Confession:

Lord, I confess (for me today: that I struggle to be in true solitude when I am alone sometimes or try to seek the approval of others in my social interactions. I want too much to be liked but desire not to be hampered or crippled by that tendency).

Supplication:

I ask that You would heal any area in me that seeks approval from anyone but You. I lift my heart and give it to You for healing. I also lift up (name an area of personal need or concern. For me: I am entering into an unknown world of entrepreneurship and feel quite inadequate. I desire to honor You in all I do and ask that You guide me and give me confidence to execute this business Your way).

Intercession:

I lift my children today for Your hand in their lives. Give them the same hunger for Your Presence that I pray for myself. I also lift up (area of need or concern, victory, progress. Chloe: She’s been sick for several days now. Please heal her body. Victory: She is learning to self-edit and apply manners in how she speaks to our family and to others, instead of using bossy commands and screaming to get her way. Christian: He is also sick, praying for healing. Victory: He has been intentionally using a few clear sentences that we can understand!!!!!!! Praise God!!)

Thanksgiving and Consecration:

I love You, Father, and I am so thankful to be Yours! Bless You, Lord. I ask that You seal this time for Your glory. Let Your Kingdom come, Your will be done TODAY in OUR HOME as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen!