Soon a large crowd of people had gathered to listen and be healed of their sicknesses. As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer. —Luke 5:16

We will all find ourselves in the wilderness

.

Week 1: Fasting helps us realize what is really

us.

“The desert teaches by taking away.” —William Langewiesche

When we get rid of the inessential, we can focus on the

.

Week 2: Many of us are trying to live super-human lives to go beyond our human

.

Solitude Deprivation

Our daily need for food, water, and air remind us of our

on God and the earth for life.

Solitude was once our

state when other people weren’t around. Now it’s nearly

Reveal Answer

.

We have lost the ability to be

.

TV, YouTube, podcasts, and audiobooks enable us to have a

stream of input.

“I can become exhausted by the intrusion of the media and technology into every corner of my life, resulting in constant overstimulation of body, mind, and emotions. All of this convenience wears me out!” —Ruth Haley Barton

With distraction always easily at hand, we run the risk of losing the ability to endure

emotions.

“We are so afraid of silence that we chase ourselves from one event to the next in order not to have to spend a moment alone with ourselves, in order not to have to look at ourselves in the mirror.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer

In our achievement-focused culture, silence and solitude feel too much like

time.

Solitude in Jesus’ Life

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he had a rhythm of being with people and

for solitude.

Jesus spent 40 days alone in the wilderness before beginning his ministry.

Jesus spent time alone in

after a long night of healing. (Mark 1:35)

Jesus spent time in solitude before

the apostles. (Luke 6:12-13)

Jesus spent time alone praying the night before he was

. (Luke 22:39-42)

The Practice of Solitude

The primary purpose of solitude is to create space to be with and listen to

.

Even good things like prayer and Bible reading can become

from God.

In silence, we face the parts of ourselves we ignore or

.

Solitude can be like pouring water on a

.

“Solitude is a formative place because it gives God’s Spirit time and space to do deep work. When no one is there to watch, judge and interpret what we say, the Spirit often brings us face to face with hidden motive and compulsions. The world of recognition, achievement and applause disappears. And we stand squarely before God without props.” —Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

Solitude can begin with as little as a few

and grow to as much as several

Reveal Answer

.

What Solitude Is Not

Solitude is not simply being

.

Solitude is not

.

Solitude is not just for

.

Solitude is not reserved for spiritual

.

“Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life… . We do not take the spiritual life seriously if we do not set aside some time to be with God and listen to him.” —Henri Nouwen

Solitude is not an

from other people.

The desert fathers described the fruit of solitude as “dying to our

.”

Solitude gives us

to stand upon so that we can lift up our neighbors in love.

Action Steps

Choose a

each dayto spend in solitude with God. If this is new for you, try

Reveal Answer

minutes.

When you become distracted,

return your attention to God.

“How lovely. Ten thousand opportunities to turn back to God.” —Father Thomas Keating

As you progress, consider setting aside a half or full day or more to spend in

with God.

“My additional notes:

.