Day 3 – Silence + Solitude + Prayer
WEEK 1
This week, we are focusing on Revelation 21:1-10, what some describe as the Holy Wedding Day, when God will come and make all things new!
Read the passage and return to it as needed for your daily quiet time.
This Week's Passage: Revelation 21:1-10
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain,for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without costfrom the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.This is the second death.” 9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride,the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
Silence + Solitude + Prayer
For many of us, moments of true silence and solitude are rare. We live in a technology-filled world with information at our fingertips. The constant access to media can be incredibly enticing and can leave many of us addicted to noise, while the notion of silence becomes unbearable. Often, the idea of sitting in total silence is daunting—whether due to our busy schedules or fear of what will arise when we aren’t so distracted and occupied. If we’re honest, some of us have even begun to rely on noise and busy-ness.
Learning how to sit in silence and solitude with God will help you grow in attentiveness to His voice, develop your listening skills, and bring awareness and care for any underlying memories and emotions that keep us from slowing down and getting quiet. Choosing to set aside time away from the things that demand our attention—emails, social media, streaming apps, the never-ending to-do list—to spend time alone with God will satisfy your soul’s deepest desire of truly being known and loved as you are. We understand that there are parts of your life that you may not want to face, but there’s no greater time than now to pay attention to what’s going on in your inner world and let the silence lead you to prayer as God brings to the surface all the things that have been stuffed down and avoided for far too long.
So, this is your invitation: find a calm, quiet space with minimal to no distractions. Turn off your phone, computer, and TV. If necessary, close the door and ask others not to disturb you. Depending on where you are, you may want to light a candle or use an essential oil diffuser. Sitting outside or going for a walk are other options for this time. Remember, be patient. Don’t focus on doing anything, and allow yourself to simply be with God.
Next Steps:
- When you have found your space, decide on a timeframe. We suggest starting with five to ten minutes. Setting a timer may be helpful so that you don’t continually check the time.
- Keep in mind that this is not intended to be a time of prayer or meditating on Scripture. This is simply a time to rest and be with your Heavenly Father.
- If possible, close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and pray, “In God alone my soul finds rest.” (Psalm 62:1)
- As you begin to get quiet, notice what you hear around you and then begin to release it, blocking out the noise and distracting thoughts.
- When your mind begins to wander, gently bring it back to stillness by taking more deep breaths and silently repeating “In God alone my soul finds rest.”
- When your time of solitude and silence has ended, take one more deep breath, praying a prayer of thanks to God for His presence and the gift of peace and rest in Him.
- Notice how your body responded to the stillness. Has your heart rate and breathing slowed? Are your neck and shoulders more relaxed?
- Reflect on this time. Take a mental note, journal, or talk to God about what it was like for you.
- Consider asking Holy Spirit to highlight any particular moments or journal prompts from this week, and allow Him to guide you as you pray.
Weekly Prayer Services
We also invite you to join us at your campus for a time of corporate prayer! Click here to learn more about prayer times at each of our campuses, and make sure to add it to your calendar.
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