Day 17 – Silence + Solitude + Prayer
WEEK 3
On days 15-21 of our time of prayer and fasting, we are reading the final words of the Bible in Revelation 22:6-21. This passage describes the interaction between John—an apostle of Jesus—and an angel of the Lord as he proclaims Jesus’ return.
Read the passage and return to it as needed for your daily quiet time.
This Week's Passage — Revelation 22:6-21
6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
Epilogue: Invitation and Warning
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Silence + Solitude + Prayer
We know that silence and solitude may be challenging to fully immerse yourself in, but we hope that by now you have begun to look forward to finding new ways to tune out the noise and tune into God’s voice. We’re following Jesus’ example—getting away from the crowds, setting aside time away from what typically demands our attention—to spend time alone with God, pour out our hearts, and hear what’s on His heart for us.
So, as usual, find a calm, quiet space with minimal to no distractions and get ready to settle in for the next few moments. 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 these first few moments are 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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