Solitude

Psalm 27 NASB

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.

1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
2When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.
4(I)One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD
And to meditate in His temple.
5For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You,
"Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."
9Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the LORD will take me up.
11Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a level path
Because of my foes.
12Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
14Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.


This past week the Lord has been whispering to my heart. He has patiently and consistently tugged and urged me to get away - alone with Him. I must confess that my ears have been dull and my heart has been even slower to comprehend what He has been saying in His unique gentle whisper. I just kept trudging along, getting wearier and wearier by the minute. Not realizing what I needed, I tried to find the strength in myself. Although I didn’t “snap” to what He was saying I could not shake the sweet undertone of His influence – “Come Away With Me”.

You see, life has been hectic lately. There has been the business of studies and ministry. There has been the harried pace of the Christmas Holiday (somehow I see a sad irony in this statement). There has been the financial uneasiness of being self employed during this time of failing economy. And how could I forget the intense underlying concern for loved ones who are far away.

All of this going on in my soul has brought with it fear, unrest, and exhaustion.

Yet, for some reason it has taken me a lot of time to realize that the only one that could restore and rejuvenate my weary self was calling me to be alone with Him. I knew it. I just didn’t bring myself to actually do it! Every time I have finally sought solitude with my Lord He has restored me. Why does it take so long to remember and return?

Today I did take the time. And guess what? God showed up! Actually He was always there - at the door, knocking, waiting to come in and be with me!

I have been able to hang out with Him all morning and what a great morning it has been!
It seems like every thing I’ve read in His Word has been for my restoration and recovery. He knew what I needed!

In Psalm 85:6 the psalmist asks, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” By the way, did you know that the Hebrew word for revive means not only to restore and refresh but also to repair? That’s what I needed …repair.

I am so grateful that I finally got alone, opened the door, and had the most amazing time with my Lord. I felt that I never wanted to leave. Yet, life beckons…sigh…
Even though I must leave the solitude and become involved, once again, with the cares of living, I feel somehow lighter and strengthened. I also know that I don’t go alone.

It is my prayer that you guys won’t put it off…that you will make the time…open the door…trust me (actually-- TRUST HIM) …You won’t be disappointed!

Incidentally, I sooo identify with Elijah in this passage...know what I mean?

I Kings 19:3-12 NIV

3 Elijah was afraid [a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

The LORD Appears to Elijah
And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.