Silence and Solitude Part 4

It is a new year and I have been busy with family and friends. It almost seems like forever since I posted on here. But to continue on with the silence and solitude series, please refer back to Part 1 before you go on to read this section.

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 Part 4

Silence and Solitude Stealers

Despite the Bible's exhortation and Jesus' example to enjoy times of silence and solitude, few Christinas regulatly enjoy thses gifts from God. This is because there are some real enemies at work that need to be combated for silence and solitude to be enjoyed. The following are some of the more common silence and solitude stealers that have to be dealt with as an act of repentance:

1. Those people - pushy, needy, demanding, high-drama, inconsiderate people steal your life, joy, health, and time--often in the neame of ministry, when it's really people-pleasing idolatry that allows them to get away with it.
2. Technology - you cannot be a maturing Christian following the example of Jesus Christ if you are always surging the Internet, dinking around on your cell phone, reading emails, texting, tweeting, rocking out, and watching TV. You have to turn them off to tune int ot God. Yes, I have all of the latest technology, and I turn it off so my soul can recharge. Do you really think Jesus would have been checking his buddy's friend request in the Garden of Gethsemane if he had and iPhone?
3. Lack of planning - in Leading On Empty, Wayne Cordeiro shows that in Genesis 1 when the Bible describes days, it says there was first evening then morning. So, bibically, the day begins at night with rest, Sabbath, and silence. That then prepares us for work and conversation. This is like Jesus who spent time alone before beginning his public ministry.
4. Trading busyness for fruitfulness - some people say they are too busy to worship, pray, Sabbath, journal, and so forth, cut they have tragically traded being busy for being godly, obedient, and wise fruitful stewards. Is your busyness truly fruitful or would some plans to organize your world, home, diet, budget, schedule, and life be helpful?
5. Lack of appreciation - the Bible has a great deal to say about the benefits of purposeful silence, including:

• hearing from God (1 Kings 19:11-13)
• waiting patiently for the Lord to act (Lam. 3:25-28)
• worshiping God (Hab. 2:20)
• knowing God better (Ps. 46:10)
• praying effectively (Luke 5:16)

My prayer is that those reading this who are guilty of people and noise addiction would experience the regular gifts of silence and solitude because that is often where God is waiting for us. There was silence before God spoke the world into existence, and silence for forty days before Jesus began his public ministry. May you too enjoy silence and solitude before you attempt to live your life with, for, like, and to God.


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I have to say that I love number one and two. There are so many people that I love hanging out with and there is so much technology that I love messing around on. I can get distracted by what people and this world has to offer. There are many times that I justify myself in what I do which is not okay. I tell myself that it is okay to go and hang out even though I have not had any time with Jesus that day. I think that your day will be more filled with Christ if you are to dive in each morning and spend time in the word and in prayer. Mark says that night is when it should start, but I think you need something to reguvinate you in your day. Something that you can hold onto and cling to through out your day. So the best time, I think is in the morning before you start anything else in your day.