Solitude, community, and ministry…
“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community... Let him who is not in community beware of being alone... Each by itself has profound perils and pitfalls. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and the one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation and despair.”― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
If we follow Jesus’ pattern, fruitful life flows from cycles of solitude, community, and ministry. We need all three to effectively love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:30-31)
We need authentic community now more than ever. But we need community that flows from and is fed by a living bond with Jesus rather than just our own opinions and agenda. Ministry will be the natural fruit of healthy community that is formed by growing connections with God. Whether it is pulling away from the “to do” list to savor a few quiet moments, a walk outside to think and pray, a daily time with the Word, or an extended period to clear the cobwebs, we need to build serenity into our noisy lives.
"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)
Cease striving, stop fighting, be still, stand silent, step out of the traffic, whatever your version says… It literally means “drop your fur” as an animal relaxes his hackles when he knows it is safe. Some of us have had our fur up for a very long time.
When I seek God with others, I am strengthened in so many ways.
Knowing I am not alone in my wonderful, weird, and wooly life.
Having the encouragement and accountability of others who also love Jesus.
Being reminded of God’s faithful and powerful hand as I hear the different ways God is guiding us.
Seeing God pour his love out in such personal and individual ways.
Gleaning nuggets of wisdom and insight from others.
Having others faithfully hold my unique story as I hold theirs.
Learning tools to experience intimacy with God.
At the Psalm One Refocus and Refuel Retreat, we spend time at Jesus’ feet alone together. Alone together? A contradiction in terms? No.
Have you ever intended to set aside a chunk of time to be with God and God alone? Has it ever dissipated or vanished by being crowded out by distractions or just drifting off track? When we seek God alone together, we form a small community of men and women intent on spending time at Jesus’ feet.
Many people fear silence and solitude, but it is not isolation. It is spending renewing time with the One who loves you more than you can ever imagine. As one colleague says, “Isolation is when you put yourself in a cage. Solitude is when you put all the distractions in a cage.” Far from being isolated, intentional silence and solitude is spending clarifying and strengthening time with the Beloved. It has become oxygen to my soul.
Our Refocus and Refuel is a “semi-silent” retreat. We open with time in the Word and heart preparation, close in time in the Word, prayer, and considering how God may be whispering and nudging. We talk and laugh over wonderful meals. I am available for spiritual direction if you are wrestling with how God might be leading you, if you want help in bringing an issue before the Lord, if you want to pray with someone, or you’re not sure how to connect with God. In between, however, we give one another the gift of silence so you can enjoy unhurried, uninterrupted time of study, prayer, meditation on the Word, journaling, and resting in His presence.
It takes a while to dial down and become still enough to hear that still, small voice. It takes longer than a few minutes to let the whirlwind of my full life settle so I can truly see what is worth keeping, what should be weeded out, what treasures I may be missing. When the dust settles, I can see His light shining into every corner of my world. Priorities are reexamined, choices are reassessed, thoughts are taken captive, and God’s Word and voice come alive.
For more information and to register for the Cincinnati November 17-19 Refocus and Refuel Retreat: https://www.psalmone.org/refocus-and-refuel For men and women.
Too far from Cincinnati or can’t clear a weekend? Geography doesn’t stop us.
For my friends Down Under: Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise, I will be back in Australia and New Zealand in 2024. Interested in hosting a Refocus and Reuel Retreat, Day of Refreshing, Soul Care Retreat, other speaking, teaching, preaching, or ministry of any kind? Contact me and let’s see what God may have up His sleeve.
Online Day of Refreshing! Yes, we miss the Days of Refreshing out among the woods and gardens of Oregonia. I know it’s not the same, but we will be having an online getaway soon. This means that men and women from anywhere—not just SW Ohio—can join us. Dates to be announced. Space is limited. Watch your email.
Could you use some time in the Word and some encouragement to keep your head, heart, and hands following hard after God? Join us Tuesdays at 7:30pm ET for the Psalm One Bible Study. Join an encouraging, joyful community of men and women from all over the US and sometimes the other side of the planet. We are currently in Matthew and will begin a new book soon, but you are welcome to pop in anytime. To stay in the loop: https://www.psalmone.org/tuesday-night-bible-study
I can’t do any of this without prayer support. If you would like to pray for Psalm One Ministries (and its director 😉), reply with “Prayer Team”. I need a team to listen, pray, and come along with me as God leads us.
May you find places to experience life-giving solitude, community, and ministry as we walk with Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Linda