Have you ever had a friend who wouldn’t take “no” for an answer? Someone who persisted with an invitation until you said “yes” just so she’d stop asking? For me, it was a friend many years ago who kept hounding me to attend a half-day silent retreat with her. Nothing about it appealed to me. Why would I spend precious hours without my kids to go somewhere and not talk to anyone? No worship music? No teaching? No small group discussions? No thank you. I mean, what was the point? Despite my resistance and many valid excuses, she finally wore me down.
On the morning of the retreat, I dropped off my toddler and baby with my mom and drove to a retreat center nestled in the hills nearby. Parking my car adjacent to a lush garden and getting a glimpse of the panoramic views, I could feel my resistance beginning to fade. Ministry leaders welcomed us with fresh coffee and warm smiles (another good sign). They shared a short devotional and prayed for our morning of being alone with the Lord. Before sending us outside they gave each of us a printed reflection guide that included ideas for how to structure the time.
For a newbie like me, the written guide gave me a starting point, enabling me to relax and even enjoy the silence. I didn’t realize how much I needed to slow down and let my soul catch up with me. Being solo without interruption enabled me to examine what was on my mind and to share my heart with the Lord. Once I’d poured out my angst and worries, I had mental space to hear from God. Walking on dirt paths among the trees, I was present enough to marvel at the beauty of creation and to be reassured of God’s sovereignty over all things. I drove down the hill feeling refreshed, grounded, and inspired to sign up for the next silent retreat.
I smiled thinking about those retreats as I opened my Practicing the Way Reading Reflection Guide not long ago. Each week of the study includes a different practice to try on our own. Session 01 “Following Jesus” encourages developing a daily prayer rhythm– the practice being with God intentionally through silence, solitude, and prayer. In a world of constant inputs, screens, and scrolling, the act of pulling away to be quiet before the Lord may feel intimidating or unappealing. We’re so used to the constant stream of distractions that we no longer feel comfortable being alone with our thoughts.
While I thrive being busy and feel energized by having a full plate, I also understand the value of solitude and silence– even if it’s just ten minutes first thing in the morning. This spiritual practice is more about abstinence (not doing) than action; more about training ourselves in the way of Jesus than trying harder. Setting aside a time for intentional quiet will enable us to engage God’s presence; to make space to consider our thoughts, and to share them with the Lord. It’s a chance to invite a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit so that He can equip us and guide us in the day ahead. Practicing solitude and prayer open the door for intimacy with God, producing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as we engage others.
In a world that prizes multi-tasking and productivity, silence and prayer feel counter-cultural. Maybe you’ll be tempted to skip this practice, but you’ll be missing a key part of the discipleship journey we’re on together. How can we “practice the way” without practice? Silence, solitude, and prayer may feel awkward and uncomfortable, but we’ll never grow if we don’t try. Think of this week’s practice like filling your car with gas or charging your electric vehicle’s battery. We can’t refuel or recharge while the car is in motion. The same is true for our souls.
Need more convincing? The gospels show Jesus prioritizing solitude and prayer throughout His ministry:
- Mark 1:15: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
- Luke 5:16: “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
- Luke 6:12 “ One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”
- Matthew 14:23: “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,”
So, if we’re sincere in our pursuit of being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did, then solitude and prayer are the place to start. This week be intentional about spending between five and sixty minutes alone with Jesus daily. Be patient with yourself and tell God about any feelings of frustration, impatience, awkwardness, or discomfort you experience. Create space in your schedule to put the words of Psalm 46:10 into practice: “Be still, and know that I am God.” If possible, aim to do it first thing to set the tone for your day.
This week you’re also being invited to complete the “Spiritual Health Reflection” at practicingtheway.org/reflection. Again, you might be tempted to skip this, but you’ll be missing out if you do. This exercise leads you through a series of questions to consider where you are in your spiritual journey and helps you choose one area where you’d like to grow. Don’t think of this as a ranking system to rate your level of spiritual maturity, but a thermometer to gauge where your heart and mind are in this season. The time to reflect will help you to chart the course ahead as we continue learning about spiritual disciplines that can expand our capacity to receive God’s love.
*This post is part of a series based on Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer (Waterbrook Press, 2024) and weekly practices described in the eight session study guide. Order your copy of Practicing the Way using this link or buy it anywhere books are sold.
If you’re participating in a group in person at CPC Danville, copies of the Reading Reflection Guide are available at Focused Living AM and PM and in the church office. If you’d like a digital PDF to download, please reply in the comments.