Solitude

This week spend time as a family connecting with God through solitude. Solitude is experiencing intimacy with God by getting alone Him. In this special union, you are able to be intimate and vulnerable with the Lord. When you know that it’s just you and Him in the room, you are able to enter into the Holy Place, where God’s Presence is.

To learn more about meditation visit mercyculture.com/solitude

• Sunday

  Scripture:
  The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 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. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. ‭‭Mark‬ ‭6:30-32‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

  Activation:
  Set apart a time and place where you can be alone with God. This may be in your home, a park nearby, or anywhere you find solitude.

  Table Talk:
  Do you have time carved out in your family’s rhythm to just sit with Him? Try carving out chunks of time and communicate to your children, “We are each going to take the next __ minutes to sit with the Lord and be in His presence.”

• Monday

  Scripture:
  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29:12-13‬ ‭‬‬‬‬

  Activation:
  You hear God best when you are in stillness. In this stillness, you can feel Him when He enters the room. In your encounter, wait for the moment you feel His presence invade your quietness.

  Table Talk:
  Write down/draw what His presence feels like to you.

• Tuesday

  Scripture:
  “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27:4‬

  Activation:
  You can get alone with God at any time. Find pockets of your day to set apart for an encounter. You are the temple and His Spirit is in you. He is your dwelling place.

  Table Talk: 
  How do you silence all distractions around you in order to focus on His presence?
  

• Wednesday

  Scripture:
  You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27:8‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬

  Activation:
  Don’t get discouraged if you don’t feel Him every time. Make sure He feels you. Keep setting aside intentional time and don’t get weary in spending time in solitude during your daily encounters. Intimacy is achieved when you consistently respond to get alone with Him.

  Table Talk:
  Is sitting in silence difficult for you? Talk about why and how you can practice it more.

• Thursday

  Scripture:
  For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm‬ ‭62:1-2‬‬

  Activation:
  Say “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening” and wait on Him.

  Table Talk:

  What can happen when we get alone with God?

• Friday

  Scripture:
  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

  Activation:
  Solitude requires preparation. Plan and prepare for your daily encounters with the Lord. Remove distractions that take your attention away from Jesus. You just need simplicity to lead you into His presence; remember little connections create a big impact

  Table Talk:
  Why do you feel some people have a hard time being alone with God? What can make it difficult?

• Saturday

  Scripture:
  You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭32:7‬ ‭ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

  Activation:
  As you are alone with Him today, ask Him to reveal if you are hiding in anything other than Him (relationships, sports, media, etc.) repent (ask God to forgive you for finding security in anything other than Him) and ask the Lord to become your hiding place and security, and to deliver you of from what has a hold on your life.

  Table Talk:
  Can you be hidden in Christ, even when you physically don't see anything around you? Talk about what it means to be hidden in Him.