Solitaire? Solitude!

This past week we had to practice the spiritual discipline of solitude. Solitude is the idea of not just being alone but being fully disconnected from the world. In class we defined it as a way to focus on God without any distractions. For me I wanted to try this when it was dark. Just go out sit in a field of darkness by myself without any technology or people within a long distance.

So I did this two different nights and it was at first boring and then kind of relaxing. It was amazing how I felt when I took thirty minutes out of my day to remove myself from all distractions and to focus on God.  This discipline was not easy for me. I am an extrovert and I need and crave human interaction. So going out into the dark without any contact was a challenge and I thought it was going to be stupid.

It wasn't stupid though. I was able to focus on one thing, God, That was all that I needed to do was to focus on God and thats what I did. I don't know how well I will do with this one in the future but it was not a failure at all it was a raving success. Trust God take a hour or even half that and get away from it all and just focus. Focus on the one who never stops focusing on you and realize all the things you are missing.

SImple way is the right way.

Simplicity, is defined as trust in god, willingness to use what we have for others and a freeing from anxiety. This is the discipline I was challenged to do this past week. When we talked about this I was like HA! this is easy anxiety and trust what easy concepts how could a Christian not do these? Then I realized that I am not fully focused on God and how I can't do these to the best of my ability unless my focus is fully on God.

So I decided to change my focus and trust away from things that were physical and started trust fully on the spiritual. And can I say it was fantastic!!! Knowing God has it all in his hands was awesome, not to say I never had that security before but when I am praying for it everyday and looking for God's hand in it. So simplicity never would of put it as a way to worship but it is! and that blows my mind.

So I challenge you to go out and trustGod in everything. God can remove anxiety. It worked for me and it CAN work for you. Worship God in all aspects of life. Be simple, be stress free and TRUST God.

Reread The Reading, Reread The Reading, Reread...

Rereading, a technique used by people every where to better understand the words in front of them. In class this past week we were challenged to do something seemingly easy. We were asked to study a passage in the Bible. Or in other words to "study" it. I thought while in class this will be easy. But then our professor defined study, " Study is the reading and rereading of a passage over the course of many days". Many days? How many days does it take to  understand a couple verses? Well, I was in for a big surprise. 

That night I chose my passage James 3:1-7. The passage goes "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. ² For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. ³ Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, thevery world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." 

You might be thinking why did he read this passage? Well I am going into the business of talking to people and large groups. So I figured what better passage to glean knowledge from than this one. So I did it every day I read this passage and not just once a day but TWICE! It was eye opening. The way that every time I reread this passage I had some new perspective or look at it. It was amazing that this study was a way to worship God. I was able to put my trust in him even more deeply because I realized that I cannot do this alone.

So I challenge you reader not to just read this and say"good for him!" but to read the Bible or even another intellectual reading and keep reading it reread the reading. THe BIble is a great book filled with knowledge for all people and I challenge you to keep on rereading.