Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  ––1 Kings 19:11-12

When I talk about the importance of getting alone with God, guys inevitably ask, “You mean, reading my Bible and praying?” Yes, that’s a big part of it—but not exactly what I’m talking about. For hundreds of years Christians practiced silence and solitude as part of their spiritual ritual. And let’s face it, it was a lot easier to find a quiet place to hear from God in 1524 than it is in 2024.

Particularly prior to the Industrial Revolution, living in sync with one’s natural environment was just what people did. Prior to 1000, even, it’s believed that the number of people living in urban settings was less than 5%. By 1800, this number reached about 8%; and by 1900 it had increased to around 16%. The vast majority of folks were in rural areas and lived an agrarian lifestyle—farming, raising livestock, etc. People didn’t need to “get away” into nature—that’s just where they lived. It wasn’t until the start of the 20^th century that people increasingly left the countryside to live in the new and growing cities.

With urbanization I believe we lost something that God never intended for us to lose: our familiarity with silence and solitude. Most of us have not only lost touch with the natural world God created, we’ve lost touch with the ability to meet Him there—away from the lights, people, noise, and stress. We are a people increasingly isolated from the ways and means by which we hear God most clearly: when we are alone in a quiet place.

Depending on your life stage, it can be tough to get alone with God to not “do” anything. Just listen. Just sit. Just be in His presence. Sound hard (or boring)? At first, yeah. It can be. But like everything else, practice is the key. Get away for a few hours or for a day—just you and your Bible—and spend some time alone with God in a natural, relaxing place. If you can’t do that—no car, no time, etc.—then go to a quiet park. Or on a walk to a quiet place in your neighborhood. Listen for His voice; practice tuning your ear to His frequency. Try not to “talk” to Him—even if for just five minutes to start—and just listen.

Listening to God in silence is a dying art. The Father is looking for men who are willing to master the craft and teach it to others.

Father, help me find solitude and silence so I can hear You more clearly. 

 

 

Every Man Ministries