Solitude is a place of interaction with God, where we engage with Him as He examines our deepest thoughts, dreams, passions, hurts, and sins. It is the place where we are known by God and where we get to know Him. The place were we love and are loved.
Here are some helpful ways to find that place of solitude with God. These are based on ideas presented from Running on Empty by Fil Anderson
- Use your lunch or coffee breaks to intentionally be alone with God.
- Find special places for solitude, places that help you connect with God.
- Focus your prayers. Fight through all the internal and external distractions by repeating a simple prayer like “Jesus, I belong to you,” or “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”
- Stop, Sit, and wait. Remember that God is responsible for the relationship with you, give him time and space to speak to you.
- Seize the opportunities that are available to you: Stay up a little later, get up a little earlier, just take a few more minutes here or there.
- Schedule some space into your day: Put solitude on your schedule like you would another appointment and then don’t double book.
- Drop all expectations: Time with God isn’t an assignment to be graded. Neither is it a means to an end.
- Slow down: Take a walk, drive slower, let others step in front of you in line, and use this time to focus on being aware of what God might be trying to share with you.
- Exercise the body and the soul: Using physical exercise as a time to keep the body busy while you allow your mind to focus and your heart to tune in to God.
- Practice gratitude, thanksgiving, and monetary prayer: Before getting out of bed, while having a conversation with someone, before a meal, while waiting for a traffic light to change, when you are on hold, when you lay your head down at night.
