I must admit I have a hard time being alone. I guess I am haunted by all the days of my youth that were spent in “Time – Out”? I do not do alone very well. I don’t always have to be with a crowd, but I have a need for companionship. Truthfully it is by God’s design, He said, “It is not good for man to be alone” so we know that He is very much ok with my need for companionship He made me this way. However, there is another principle in Scripture that Christ practiced that has gripped me in the past several days. I must admit, it has been to some degree a battle, because it does not come natural for me. What I am talking about is the need for Solitude. The need to get alone. To withdraw and refocus on the things that matter. The need to let the noise of life die down and hear from my father in heaven. One man said it this way, “There must be solitude if there is going to be a testimony of power.” Wow. What a thought, in order to walk in power I need time alone with the Source of that power. You know what I know about myself? I like to ride the wave of momentum or past victories. I like to embrace the moment, but often I linger too long in that moment and in the moment of lingering, my pride in self grows. I begin to run and do on my own power and strength. I feed my ego and if not very careful become very self focused instead of Christ focused! But this thought isn’t new. Christ taught us the need and practice of solitude. In fact in Mark 1 we learn that Jesus is baptized, He begins preaching, he heals many, and in the moment of all of these great things the bible says, vs. 35, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” In fact when His disciples find Christ they inform Him that everyone is looking for Him, they want to be with the man of the hour. But Christ says, no, it is time to move on we must stay focused on why I came.
You know, I am fearful of solitude. It is in the moment of solitude, in the moment where the cheering stops, the boasting is gone, the making much of me is quietened, and I am alone face to face with Christ Himself that I am reminded of who I am not and who He is! It is in that moment of solitude that my heart and eyes are refocused. It is in the moment of solitude that I can cry out, I can listen. It is in the moment of solitude that Christ refreshes me for the task for which He created and saved me. Moments of solitude with Christ are not a good idea they are a Necessity.
Question – Do you fear solitude? Do you make time for solitude? What do you learn when you get alone with Christ?
