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George Gallup has said, "If the focus of the twentieth century has been on outer space, the focus of the twenty first century may well be on inner space."

I think he is right. There is an insatiable hunger in our world for spiritual reality. However, much of this hunger is misguided and misdirected. Even a casual observance of the cultural landscape reveals that there is something hard-wired into man that longs for spiritual connection.

This reality sets up a titan clash of two worlds. On one hand there is the world of the inner man in need of soul connection with God. On the other hand is the outer or external world of our culture that is visible.

We were created with a need for solitude. Before the defining moments of many biblical heroes, they went to be alone with God. Look at Abraham, Moses and Joshua. Jesus, himself, spent time in solitary prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest and crucifixion.

Your life is full of pressures, distractions and fast-paced living. According to Thomas Merton, it is reflection and wonder (solitude) that scoops these invaders out of your life. Through solitude, there is finally room in your soul to meet God and for him to do the work in you that He longs to do.

Unfortunately, we fill our souls with lesser gods, and we miss the richness of the relationship with God we were created to enjoy. Your soul does not have an infinite capacity. Solitude creates capacity for God.

Everything in our culture seems to keep us from experiencing that solitude. We live in an age of continuous activity that consumes all of our time and attention, but it cannot satisfy our soul. By the way a lot of us live, you would think that we believe the bumper sticker theology that says, "Jesus is coming soon. Look busy."

Hurry is a devious enemy of the soul. In our rush to accomplish much and live life to the fullest, we rob ourselves of some of life’s richest moments. Following Jesus cannot be a sprint.

The goal of solitude is not so much to unplug from my crazy world, as it is to change frequencies so that I can hear the Father. Richard Foster has said, "Solitude doesn’t give us the power to win the rat race, but to ignore it altogether."

But how do we do it?

It will take some work and cultivation. Psalm 143: 5-10 gives us a great template for our endeavor.

Psalm 143:5-10 (NIV)
I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
[6] I spread out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
[7] Answer me quickly, O Lord;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
[8] Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
[9] Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord,
for I hide myself in you.
[10] Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

1. Look to the past (v. 5)
An integral part of the solitude experience is looking into the Bible to discover the person and character of God. Open your time with God by praying, "Lord, I come to Your Word to meet You. These are not just old stories or something on my to do list. These pages reveal You and Your heart. I want to know You."

As you keep reading in Psalm 143, you’ll notice the phrase, "I will meditate on all Your works." Meditation is giving attention with intention. You must linger on scripture by carefully processing it. This isn’t Bible study. You are using scripture to prompt access to God.

2. Look at the present (vv. 6-8)
Now you’ll move from the historical to the personal. The Psalmist says, "I spread out my hands to you." Spreading out hands symbolizes an openness of heart and a searching soul.

You want to develop a hunger for God during this time. You might not be there yet. That’s OK. Tell God that you want to hunger for Him. That’s a prayer God will answer. But come in expectation. God is with you. His reality is fact, not conjecture. You don’t need to wonder about his arrival, simply be still and realize he is already there.

That presence must come on a regular basis. You can’t rely on either last month’s or next month’s portion.

3. Look toward the future (vv. 8b-10)
During your solitude experience you need to place your future in God’s hands. The more time you spend with him in solitude, the more you’ll be able to discern his still, small voice.

We don’t just learn about God’s will for us during the time of solitude. We also work up the courage to live His will. Discerning God’s will is never a substitute for living it.

The Psalmist also says, "May your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Knowing God intimately puts you on level ground. Life might take others on a roller coaster ride, but deep, intimate knowledge of God that you’ll gain through solitude will put you on level ground.

Solitude isn’t just for the postcard views in the mountains of Colorado. You can get off by yourself anywhere. Solitude is more about the heart than it is the physical location. You just need a few minutes alone. It could be in your car, it could be in your home or backyard or it could be in a quiet booth at a restaurant. When we go into solitude we are withdrawing temporarily from conversation, noise, distractions, deadlines and the constant bombardment of stimulation.

It’s God’s greatest desire that you know Him intimately. It’s why you were created. Take a look at your schedule and find some time to spend with God in solitude. Start slow. Be gracious with yourself and realize that discipline of the mind doesn’t come easy. Your mind might wander. Then buckle up. God will use your time with Him to move you along the greatest adventure of your life - the journey of faith.

-Pastors.com-