Hi Guys, today I’m sharing a post that I wrote months ago and never shared, but it feels so fitting for what we’re dealing with today. The past few weeks “safe at home” has gone on for longer than what many of us ever thought or desired, but I want to encourage you. No matter what you are feeling God is still making all things beautiful and he will waste nothing. He hears you, He sees you, and he’s working on your behalf. So today I wanted to share something I learned during an extended period of what felt solitude last year. I’m still not sure, but just maybe God began preparing me for this current season in 2019.
Last year from March – June, I went on an extended business trip where I spent my nights in a hotel alone. I had no car and simply UBERed back and forth to work and Door Dahsed dinner. I looked forward to spending my hotel evenings journaling, praying, reading, and working out. About 30 days in, 10 lbs heavier, and feeling the symptoms of stress I realized I’d done nothing with this precious time. I squandered it on TLC, HGTV, Italian restaurants, and complaining. I didn’t see that I was missing a valuable lesson until I hung up from a complaining session with my Dad. It was then the thought hit me “Kayla, Jesus valued Solitude.”
Yes, Jesus valued solitude. There are multiple times in the bible that we see Jesus went to be alone to fast, to pray or to rest. His most talked about solo venture is the Temptation in the Wilderness. When Jesus was led into the Wilderness on a 40 day fast to be tempted by the devil. So, I popped my bible open and began to read Mathew 4:1-11. I looked at this story from an unusual perspective. How does this story relate to the everyday individual besides resisting many forms of temptation that life offers us? I found that the time in solitude says much about a person whether they are facing temptation or not. Here are 3 secrets that solitude tells about you.
What You’re Committed To. Jesus was led into the Wilderness by the Holy Spirit and tempted by the devil. Jesus completed the fast and defeated the devil at every tempting turn. His response in the face of temptation proved he was influenced by and committed to the Word of God. When satan came to tempt him, Jesus didn’t cave. He spoke the word. Jesus was committed to fulfilling and living the WORD of God. He wasn’t committed to having his needs met instantly or gaining everything that satan could promise. He behaved this way, not in front of multitudes of people, but he did this in solitude. Solitude will reveal what you are truly committed too. If you are committed to television you will spend that time watching it. If you’re committed to education you’ll spend your time investing or preparing for your next educational venture. If you’re like me, committed to building your imaginary life, you will spend it on Pinterest. So no judgement here! Have you spent anytime seeking the Lord. lately . If not, consider your commitment to him. You can appear committed to God when it is convenient and public but in your private life you’ve put your comfort, your plans, and your opinion above putting God first. I’m thankful that this time has truly revealed where I am falling short and where I am strong.
3 Wills for your life. Even in silence voices will speak, especially if you’re alone. Pay attention to what your thoughts are saying. It will give insight on 3 things. What God is promoting. What Satan is trying to sabotage. And what you are truly feeling. Sometimes all of these voices tend to sound the same. The only true way to discern the voice to follow is by spending time with God to become familiar with His voice. In this text, we see that there are 3 wills present in the wilderness with Jesus also. The will of the Holy Spirit to lead and test Jesus, the will of the devil to test and destroy Jesus’s purpose and Jesus’s will to succeed in purpose. We know this because of the conversations that took place in Matthew 4:1-11. You may not be experiencing a test like Jesus, but daily you are presented with the option to follow God, satan, or your own way. And it all begins with a thought. Reflect on your thoughts. Where do feel God pursuing you most? How is satan attacking you or attempting to defeat you? What are you truly feeling and thinking about yourself? Take it all to God and receive comfort and instruction.
Transformation. When Jesus left the wilderness, he was able get busy with purpose; gathering men as disciples, preaching, declaring, and performing miracles. I believe it was how he spent his time submitted God while in the wilderness that equipped him for purpose. He didn’t spend his time complaining or wonder wondering what everyone outside of the wilderness was doing. He was fasting and praying and resisting the devil. What will you be prepared to do when coming out of solitude. Will you be prepared for purposeful things or foolish things? Now is the time to prepare because as solitude ends the demands of purpose, work, family, school, and so on begins. I’m not telling you to get busy planning you next side hustle or prepare to preach the gospel (do that if God says so), but I am saying don’t let this time pass and you have made 0 growth spiritually.
Jesus’s time of solitude did not only show he was ready to resist temptation, it showed that he was committed to serving God and full of the Word. Interesting how something so hated can provide a truth so needed. We should not take the long trips, slow weekends, or a quarantine lightly or negatively but be attentive and vigilant to allow quietness to speak something real about us. My hope is the next time you are in a room with just yourself, or if you’re stuck at home another week, you will acknowledge that a new revelation is waiting to be revealed about you.
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