Celebration of Discipline:
The Discipline of Solitude
(Downloadable Word document)

Introduction

In our Western culture, we have been conditioned to be comfortable with noise and crowds

Inner silence and solitude that sets us free from loneliness and fear
- Loneliness is inner emptiness; solitude is inner fulfillment

Solitude is more a state of mind and heart than it is a place

Reasons for Silence and Solitude

To Follow Jesus Example
- Jesus inaugurated His ministry by spending forty days in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11). How is this contrary to our idea of starting a ministry?
- Other Examples include:
Before He chose the twelve disciples (Luke 6:12)
Upon hearing of John's death (Matthew 14:14)
After feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:23)
Following a long night of work (Mark 1:35)
Following the healing of a leper (Luke 5:16)

To Hear the Voice of God Better (1 Kings 19:11-13; Habakkuk 2:1; Galatians 1:17)

To Express Worship to God (Habakkuk 2:20; Zephaniah 1:7)

To Express Faith in God (Psalm 62:1-2, 5-6; Isaiah 30:15)

To Be Physically and Spiritually Restored (Mark 6:31)

To Regain a Spiritual Perspective (Luke 1:20)

To Seek the Will of God (Luke 6:12-13)

To Learn Control of the Tongue (James 1:26; Proverbs 17:27-28; James 3:2)

Solitude and Silence

Solitude is the spiritual discipline of voluntary and temporary withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes. The period of solitude may last only a few minutes or for days. Solitude may be sought in order to participate without interruption in other spiritual disciplines, or just to be alone with God.

Without silence there is no solitude - Silence sometime involves the absence of speech but it always involves the act of listening
Inner Solitude and Inner Silence involves active listening to God
Sometimes silence is observed in order to read, write, pray, and so on

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. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Fellowship brings accountability to be alone safely; solitude brings a recreating stillness to be with others meaningfully

The Sacrifice of Fools
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.
Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few.

Matthew 17:1-4
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

The difficulty of silence is that it make us feel helpless. We are accustomed to relying on words to manage and control others. Silence is intimately related to trust - trust in God to be in control.

Silence is one of the deepest Disciplines of the Spirit simply because it puts the stopper on all self-justification. We don't need to straighten other people out about us.

The tongue is a thermometer; it tells us our spiritual temperature. It is also a thermostat; it controls our spiritual temperature.

The Dark Night of the Soul

"When God lovingly draws us into a dark night of the soul, there is often a temptation to blame everyone and everything for our inner dullness and to seek release from it. The preacher is such a bore. The hymn singing is so weak. We may begin to look around for another church or a new experience to give us 'spiritual goose bumps.'"

Steps into Solitude
The fruit of solitude is increased sensitivity and compassion for others. There is new attentiveness to their needs and a freedom to be with people.

Minute Retreats can help bring the Lord's power into even the busiest of days. It's more than just taking a deep breath and closing your eyes. It's looking to Jesus and listening to the Holy Spirit. It's seizing those unexpected opportunities given to us and concentrating on giving them exclusively to Him.
- A moment at a traffic light.
- In an elevator
- In line at the bank or drive-thru at your favorite fast food restaurant
- When your call is put on hold

Getting Away for Silence and Solitude - develop a daily time of Bible intake and prayer. These daily times are the lifeblood of the disciplines of silence and solitude. Those who practice silence and solitude well on a daily basis are more likely to discipline themselves to enjoy them on an occasional basis, such as Minute Retreats or at Sunday morning worship.

Special Places - Locate special places that can be used for silence and solitude. Find them within your home, within walking distance, or within a few minutes drive or bike ride. You may also have a special place or two for those overnight or longer retreats.
- Jonathan Edwards found solitude in an open field.
- Dawson Trotman walked to the knoll at the end of his street.
- Susanna Wesley (mother of John & Charles) had a very large family. When she needed silence she would bring her apron up over her head and read her Bible and pray underneath it.

Discipline yourself so that your words are few and full.

Four times a year withdraw for 3-4 hours for the purpose of reorienting your goals.

Discussion Questions

What is the difference between loneliness and solitude? Which do you experience more?

Why do we need both solitude and community in order to function with spiritual success?

Where and when have you had any experiences of solitude that provided inner fulfillment or a recreating stillness?

What does Foster refer to as the dark night of the soul?

Have you had any experiences with the dark night of the soul? If so, how did they affect you, and what did you learn from them?

What do you think are the most important purpose(s) of the Discipline of Solitude?