A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

184

A Compe l l i ng Tes t imony

3. Central principles

a. Solitude recognizes the need for special seasons of retreat and time away from the normal schedule of hectic stress for refreshment, direction, and solace from the Lord. (1) Mark 6.27-31 – And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison [28] and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. [29] When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. [30] The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. [31] And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. (2) Mark 3.7 – Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea.

b. Solitude is the soul’s aloneness before the Lord, still and listening, waiting before him, Ps. 46.10 – Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

c. Solitude is recognizing the ongoing need to acknowledge the presence of the Holy in silence.

(1) Hab. 2.20 – But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.

(2) Zech. 2.13 – Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.