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The freedom of solitude
A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free. – Arthur Schopenhauer
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The beauty of solitude
We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship. -C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory
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The place of silence
I am headed out on Monday to three days of silence. It is a rhythm I work to put into my life every year now. Henri Nouwen helps explain why: “Somewhere we know that without silence words lose their meaning, that without listening speaking no longer heals, that without distance closeness cannot cure.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen
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Are you happy to suffer for others?
When it comes to thinking of others, we might do well. But to suffer for others? And be happy about it? What planet are you from? Now I’m happy to be suffering for you. I’m completing what is missing from Christ’s sufferings with my own body. I’m doing this for the sake of his body, which is the church. (Col. 1:24) We can relegate…
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The Pharisee in all of us
The incredible danger in my life is the lurking of the Pharisee. Reading the Common English Bible helps me identify that ugliness a bit better. Jesus told this parable to certain people who had convinced themselves that they were righteous and who looked on everyone else with disgust… (Luke 18:9) I am tempted in this way. It’s that attitude I…
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Praying the prayers of Paul over people
There are times when I need more than, “Lord, just bless them,” as I pray for people. There are needs to pray for in people’s lives, to be sure, but there are BLESSINGS to pray into people’s lives as well. Colossians 1:9-14 has a beautiful prayer to pray on behalf of others. I have found it to be a great…
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To rejoice in the Lord
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Phil 4:4) Rejoicing is not always a frantic shout-fest, trying to spin up frothing emotion. It is a state of deep content. Deep joy doesn’t have to shout. Last night I took my wife to one of our favorite restaurants and we shared a fabulous steak, along with some amazing…
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When the oppressed cry out
20 Then the Lord said, “The cries of injustice from Sodom and Gomorrah are countless, and their sin is very serious! 21 I will go down now to examine the cries of injustice that have reached me. Have they really done all this? If not, I want to know.” (Gen. 18:20-21) When the cries of the oppressed have reached the ears of God, he will come…
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Am I simply doing what Jesus asked?
I often worry over “right numbers” or “right moments.” The right moment is found in hearing the call of God and obeying. Right numbers? Forget it. God isn’t bothered by ANY number. Just get going in what he has asked you to do! 18 Jesus asked, “What is God’s kingdom like? To what can I compare it? 19 It’s like a mustard seed that someone…
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The perseverance of prayer
My goal this year is to attempt to re-read some key books that have influenced my life and to slow down on the number of books I read this year to try to read deeper. I am not sure how the “slower” is going to go, but I did finish Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain as my first book. If I do a…
Category: Prayer
