"The Altar"

(by Tricia Brock) The Altar - The Road (Deluxe Edition)


{This is the only way I could find for y'all to hear today's song. It's a teaching video, but if you start at about the 5:10 mark, you can hear Tricia sing most of the song...}

The women of my church got together for Overflow last night. Overflow is our monthly gathering for teaching & worship. {I told y'all a little bit about one of them awhile back!} We've been learning about spiritual disciplines this semester. For the record: we aren't learning about them so we can follow a bunch of rules to feel better about ourselves &/or earn God's favor. We are learning them so that we can put ourselves in a place of allowing God to transform us into His image. And like the apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians, we are putting into practice all that we've learned & seen from him (Phil. 4:9) as he imitated Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).

Anyways, we learned about the spiritual disciplines of silence & solitude last night. If I can be completely honest, I'm not so good at either of them. I talk a lot, and I find myself filling awkward silences {with what is most likely considered awkward ramblings!} And for the solitude part...I really like to be around people, and I tend to keep myself pretty busy. Every few months or so, I have to remind myself to be still.

I feel like I've made progress in these areas over the last year or so, without even thinking of them as spiritual disciplines. I don't know how many times I've talked to y'all about how much I enjoy my patio "sanctuary"! ;) I honestly love having alone time with Jesus out there. But I still have a ways to go. I haven't done very well this school year at all. I've spent more of my alone time preparing for Bible study & taking care of things around the house. While neither of those things are bad, they aren't as good as simply hanging out with God.

Last night was a good reminder to take advantage of those quiet moments when I'm alone and to make the most of those moments by resting in the Lord.


What are ways that you seek the Lord in silence & solitude?

"Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know Him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn

or the coming of rains in early spring."
(Hosea 6:3)



Amy

Comments

Brooke said…
these are things i struggle with as well. i try to start my day (drive to work) with the radio off, just conversing with him. doesn't always work because sometimes my mind has a hard time sitting still, but i'm working on it!
Zion said…
This is a good reminder for me too. We all need that time.
Laura said…
I was so sad to miss it. Ironically, I missed learning about silence and solitude because we had a Supper Club that night. I have recently kind of stumbled into those disciplines and really wanted to hear what Marcy had to say. I'll have to get the recap from you during Saturday's Thrift Store Jungle. :)
I also have to remind myself to 'be still'. More than I should have to remind myself. I am trying, it's hard. :)

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