Solitude

1) Whitney defines solitude as “voluntarily and temporarily with drawing to privacy for spiritual purposes.”

2) Whitney includes the Spiritual Discipline of Silence as an important compliment.
A) “The Discipline of silence is the voluntary and temporary abstention from speaking so that certain spiritual goals might be sought…to read, write, pray, and so on.”
B) Silence may be outward with inner dialog or both outward and inward in order to hear Gods voice more clearly.
C) Silence and solitude are complimentary and usually practiced together
D) Out western culture is not conductive to the practice of silence and solitude

3) Jesus clearly practiced these important disciplines:
Matt. 4:1
Matt. 14:23
Mark 1:35
Luke 4:42

4) Why should we practice silence and solitude?
A) To hear the voice of God better
B) To express worship to God
C) To express faith in God
D) To seek the salvation of the Lord
E) To be physically and spiritually restore
F) To regain a spiritual perspective
G) To seek the will of God
H) To learn control of the tongue

5) How can we practice silence and solitude
A) Take “minute retreats” –Foster calls them “little solitudes”
B) Develop a daily time of being alone
C) Get away from the normal activities of life—a retreat
D) Locate special places to practice silence and solitude
E) Trade off daily responsibilities with family/co-workers to give time for these disciplines

6) “The fruit of solitude is increased sensitivity and compassion for others. There comes a new freedom to be with people. There is a new attentiveness to their needs, new responsiveness to their hurts.”
A) This is why solitude was so important to Jesus during His earthly ministry
B) This is why it should be to us—so we may become more like Christ!!!