A few months ago I moved to a lovely little town in West Texas. It’s the kind of place where I could spend every waking minute of my day surrounded by friends if I wanted to. I’m an extrovert and need to be around people most of the time, but I like to set at least one day a week aside to be completely alone.

I can remember a time, not so long ago, that I ran from even a hint of loneliness. I hated being alone and I think this is pretty common to our generation. So many times, we run from the very place where God meets with us most intimately:

When we are truly alone.

Think of some of the times you’ve been moved by the Word of God or when you’ve felt the Holy Spirit impressing something on your heart. A clear moment when you were so sure that God was speaking to you and interacting with you. Where were you?  

There’s a good chance that you were in a room full of people: a conference, church, youth camp, etc.. I don’t want to discredit the incredible ways in which God speaks among the body of believers, but I need to take a moment to remind you how personal Jesus Christ really is. 

The Lord Jesus wants to spend time with you. In those moments when it’s just you and Him, God communes with you, just you, in a very real way. We get to connect with our Creator. We pour out our hearts at His feet, and He reveals His heart to us and molds us into His likeness.  

It is crucial for us to learn to hear God’s voice when we are alone. Practice the discipline of hearing from the Lord, not just when someone is challenging you from a pulpit, but also when He whispers in your ear and stirs in your heart. 

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” | Luke 5:16

Throughout Scripture we see the importance of people going to be alone with God. If Christ himself did it, how much more needed it is for us! I have been guilty so often of complaining about feeling lonely rather than taking advantage of the time for growth, but I encourage you to set time aside for the Lord. You won’t regret it. 

Learn to be in the presence of God alone. He will transform your life. You’ll see your priorities fall into place, feel your spirit lighten from under the burden of diminishing time, and experience a peace that comes with spending every moment in the presence and under the guidance of a good Heavenly Father.

Solitude WILL become something you look forward to.  

“Solitude is the creation of an open, empty space in our lives by purposely abstaining from interaction with other human beings, so that, freed from competing loyalties, we can be found by God.” (Life with God Bible, 531)