The Spiritual Discipline of Silence and Solitude

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:4-5

Have you ever known an extremely chatty person? Perhaps, after a conversation with your friend, you just want a few minutes of peace. Maybe you have a talkative toddler? Or, how about a job where there is constant noise?

As an introvert, I long for silence and solitude often. I would go so far as to say it is a physical need for me. I wonder if Jesus was an introvert.

The spiritual discipline of silence and solitude is, according to David Whitney, defined as: “Voluntarily and temporarily withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes.” As a person who longs for silence and solitude, I have to be very intentional about making this a spiritual practice, not an exercise for my benefit. How about you, do you long for solitude or run from it?

The spiritual discipline of silence and solitude are often grouped together; after all, it is hard to be silent in a group of people and might be challenging to be silent in solitude.

Let’s look at a few examples of when Jesus sought solitude:

1. In Matthew 14:23, we see Jesus going up on a mountainside by Himself to pray.
2. In Mark 1:35, Jesus gets up while it is still dark to go to a solitary place to pray.
3. He heads out at daybreak to spend time with His Father in a solitary place in Luke 4:42.
4. In Luke 6:12, He goes to the mountainside and prays day and night.

It is easy to see the pattern Jesus models. Get to a solitary place and then pray. Silence is also commanded in Scripture:

1. The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. Habakkuk 2:20
2. Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. Zephaniah 1:7
3. In quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15b
4. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:26

Some people fear silence and solitude. Others might confuse solitude with loneliness. I want us to look at the benefits of the regular practice of silence and solitude, so we can stop fearing and start enjoying new freedom found in this practice. Richard Foster, in his book, Celebration of Discipline, says,

Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment. Solitude is more a state of mind and heart than it is a place.

Five Benefits of Silence and Solitude

1. Provides space for listening to God. – We cannot hear the voice of God if we are always doing the talking. God loves to listen to our voice and is so patient to listen to all we have to say. But talking is only half of prayer. How often do we neglect the part where we stop and hear what God wants to tell us? When I think of it this way, I am sad about all the times I have missed out on hearing the very voice of God. How amazing it is to hear Him in my day!
2. Teaches us how to wait patiently. – Hurry up; we are going to be late! This seems to be the constant attitude of our bodies and minds. We don’t know how to enjoy the moments of waiting—waiting in the grocery line, waiting in traffic, or waiting upon the Lord. In Psalm 62:5, we are commanded to wait in silence. What if we took advantage of these daily moments of marking time and turned to God in the waiting?
3. Allows us to comprehend God’s nearness. – When we are quiet and listening, something amazing happens, we start to comprehend how close our God is.
4. Makes us aware of our sin. – If this happens, lean into it. It is not always how it goes for me, but sometimes it happens. I think of the story of Adam and Eve in the garden when they realize they are naked and hide from God. God pursued them so He could repair their relationship. How beautiful it is when God pursues me in these moments, allowing me to see my sin, confess, and leave this time walking in a repaired relationship with the God of Creation.

How to gain impulse control.

I know for some of us, sitting in silence and solitude can be harrowing. There are some very real obstacles to this practice. We have to fight boredom, anxiety, our To-Do lists, and other distractions. I would recommend you start small and be aware that it may be uncomfortable at first. How about starting with a 10-minute session?

Be prepared to fight against your flesh. Think of it as muscle training. When you start small and stay consistent with the practice, you will eventually find it to be an essential part of your life. You may even begin to look forward to this time.

A few small ways to start your practice.

1. Begin each morning with a stretch and a prayer of silence. – When you get out of bed, stretch your arms above your head, in a posture of praise, thanking God for the day ahead. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds, silently waiting upon the Lord. Then bend down and touch your toes. This is a posture of bowing before the Lord. Submit your day to God and then hold the stretch for 30 seconds, silently waiting upon the Lord.
2. Practice the pause before sinning. – When you are tempted to do something, you know you should not do, such as overindulging, gossiping, or lying (to name a few common sins), pause and say “Come Holy Spirit.” Now, wait in silence and let God change your heart.
3. Observe the abstract love of God. – It is like going to a museum and looking at a Picasso. You want to take the opportunity to spend time appreciating the beautiful, abstract love of God. At the end of this devotion, you will find a chance to get creative with an art prompt about the abstract love of God and a free printable.

An opportunity to realign your heart with Gods.

Every time you leave your time of silence and solitude, you leave changed. You have just allowed God to realign your heart with His. How wonderful is this? Do you currently have a practice of silence and solitude? If not, would you consider adopting this practice? Let me pray for us as we move into the spiritual discipline of silence and solitude.

Heavenly Father, I desire to realign my heart with yours. Teach me how to deepen my walk with you through the discipline of silence and solitude. When I hesitate to spend intimate time alone with you, calm my anxious heart. When distractions keep me from hearing your voice, give me the fortitude to remove them. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness to speak to me, even when I fail to listen intently. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Create * Tada * {ish}

Want a chance to get creative with an Art Prompt for the abstract love of God and a free printable?

Print a copy of the picture frame HERE and create your own abstract art piece as inspired by the term, The Abstract Love of God. Here is a picture of mine: