SOLITUDE STRENGTHENS
Matthew 14:23 NIV says, “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”
Mark 6:47, “When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land.” (NIV).
Solitude can increase your capacity for experiencing the Presence of God. “Without solitude,” Henri Nouwen said, “it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life.” Solitude expresses the beauty, meaning, peace, and glory of being alone with God. When your mind is not cluttered, you can hear God in His still, small voice and listen to Him being alone with God. Jesus understood this. The world has waited thousands of years for him to come, and one of the first things he did was to announce that he wanted forty days off to be alone with the Father and commune with Him.
Solitudes make you aware of whether you live from the outside or inside out. However, when you listen to your heart in a rich moment of solitude, you are drawn to significant activity. Solitude enriches your spiritual resources. It is purposeful and productive.
I will introduce you to reading Psalms. I write about this in one of the chapters and how vital it is to read the Psalm, which I do. I re-read one of my written books about Psalm. Seventy of the Psalms were composed by King David; however, Moses, Solomon, Asaph, and possibly King Hezekiah also contributed to this exquisite book of hymns, prayers, and poetry. Their insights are recorded to encourage you and bring you close to God.
These meditations on the Psalms were put together with you in mind. They connect your daily struggles with the Bible’s profound wisdom. Throughout the Psalms, you will discover the intimate relationship God wants to have with you. That’s why I always bring my little hand Bible in my bag to read in the car before I go shopping and read the Psalms, how he can be a Defender, Provider, Healer, and Kind no matter what you face.
God is waiting to fill you with joy and comfort you with His Presence morning, evening, and throughout the day. You read inspirational verses, pray, worship God, and enjoy your journey. Once you have a “Secret Place,” you arrange and set your faith-filled materials that are easy to find when needed in your faith journey.
This book invites you to turn up the quiet in your life, to be still, and to know God immediately and intimately before you enter this secret place.
Be sure you unplug your phone. In my case, I don’t answer phones, but my husband does. I suggest putting them outside for those with cell/mobile phones, or it would be distracting. I have no social media to attend to and no mobile phone with which I hang around. So, it’s an advantage for me. I don’t know about you! Too much ado and noise are very disruptive, as I learned from Gloria Copeland when she was still newly born again in her journey. When people look for her, they know they can find her in her 10×10-foot room. I approximate only somewhere in her little corner.
When somebody phoned and looked for her, she was so devoted, absorbed, and very dedicated to God; she was on her phone, and somebody asked her? Maybe saying, “How are you”? “Halleluyah, Praise the Lord. I could never forget this topic in one of her stories while I listened to her CDs and read her writing.
You see, I had my own experience as well. I was so absorbed in the five-fold ministry teachings I partnered with. One day, I went to the Imaging Office for something. I went to the desk. The secretary asked me, “What is your name?” I replied, In the name of Jesus! I thought. I am God-conscious that I applied what I learned from their teaching and preaching of my five-fold Ministries. It sounds odd and funny, but I like to tell you my story as a testimony. Does it sound ridiculous? I think so! But who cares? It just happened!
In this secret place:
- It quiets your mind as you shake off the pressures of schedule and agenda in everyday life.
- It quiets your heart as you prioritize God’s Presence and relegates anything else to lesser importance.
- God is waiting to fill you with joy and peace and assure you that he is with you on every step of your faith journey.
- A place to read your open Bible, anointing faith-filled materials such as anointing authors of books, magazines devotional books, and other spiritual stuff.
- Read inspirational verses, pray, and enjoy the Selah (pause) moment in your secret place.
- It quietens your body and soul as you sit still and hush the world’s noise and the nudge to be elsewhere.
- You enjoy your moment by entering your rest of grace each morning and evening.
- May your daily meetings with God ultimately bless your soul while digging the Word of God as sparkling gems where you find God in that secret place between you and God.
- Unlock the door, speaking and hearing the dialogue between you and God
- It gives you peace
- Your eyes must be enlightened and illuminate the obscurity of the Word of God.
- It gives you wisdom and knowledge of Jesus
- Relationship and speaking with God when you have intimacy with God
When I read the book by Steven Brooks, one of the ministers, he could even pray in his little cubicle of the laundry in the hotel or carport in his house. Wherever and whatever you can, find a place with privacy.
Jesus went to the secret place often. I love how He would go up to the top of the mountain or under a tree to spend time with the Father. Sometimes, he would stay there praying through the night by Himself, even after preaching and healing the multitudes all day, even when He was exhausted. He would separate Himself from the disciples and find a place to meet with God alone. I asked you! How do you think Jesus knew so much about the Father? Because He would go to the place to meet with God, the Secret Place.
Your secret place, the prayer closet, is meant to protect your spirit from all distractions and disturbances so you can feel alone with God. However, It’s more than just a place for mental seclusion or getting away from life’s busyness. It’s your spirit’s place for communion with the Lord.
When you go to the secret place, you shut down the natural generator of your physical self and turn on the spiritual generator of your spirit. Prayer, church, Bible study, group meetings, and fasting are essential for our spiritual growth as believers. However, having a sanctuary and “secret place” will be where you regularly develop extreme intimacy and fellowship with your Heavenly Father. You can talk loud, shout whatever you do, and you’re free to do so!
Do you even realize how much God wants to hang out with you? Many times! And He wants your undivided attention when you do!
Excerpt from the books of Roselyn Van Dyks available at Amazon Kindle Store. These books are for the believers of God who wants to have hope, encouragement, insight and enlightenment.
Note: The cover of the books has been changed and modified for improvement in design. The book covers have been modified to improve their design.
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