Solitude

Frances Roberts talks of the value of solitude. He describes it as so:

"Only in much solitude can ye begin to sift away the chaff and come at last to the golden grains of truth"

"Silence will speak more to thee in a day than a world of voices can teach thee in a lifeline" (page 135)

He talks about how we can't really discern the ways of God (His Voice) amid the ways of man.

This is really true. To know and hear His Voice we really have to appreciate the value of solitude. We need to respond when God is leading us; become quiet with him, and at the same time, give less attention and less regard to the voices of so many ... so many clamouring for our undivided attention .

When God begins calling and drawing us in the direction of deep solitude with Him, our immediate response is uncertainty. "Really, is that you God?" (And often if we listen to our well meaning friends, they would tell us without hesitation, "no, that is not God")

We are all constantly hearing of the value in terms of the world, what it can offer us in terms of humanity and our fallen state. Unfortunately mixed in with this, is the clamoring very loudly via the organized churchianity as well. Encouraging us to conform by listening to respected knowledgable voices. The motives are often guilt, manipulation, fear, to name a few.

But when we eventually realize, "Yes, Lord, that is you drawing me, I will come!" Immediately as we choose this, we are filled with excitement, and we embark on this tremendous journey of appreciating and valuing His presence above all others.  This then begins to reach far beyond what we have imagined possible. His heart pleads with ours to find solitude with Him, harmony with Him alone. Our confidence soars as we become set free from our fears and from the familiar clamoring of "others". We realize that we are secure in Him. Confident in our unfailing Father and His love towards us, His beloved.   We come away with Him.

The value in terms of spiritual growth and unity with Him that  solitude can bring is immeasurable. It's central. It brings us into deepened harmony with Him on many levels - our soul truly becomes knit together with Him, our Creator, through this process.

"Find it. Find solitude - and having discovered her riches, bind her to thy heart."