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| Downtown Monroe |
Henri Nouwen writes:
"Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and place for God, and him alone." (Nouwen, The Spiritual Life: Eight Essential Titles by Henri Nouwen, Kindle Locations 635-636)
Jesus went alone to solitary places and prayed. He instructs us to do the same. Go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place (Matthew 6:6).
Those who believe do this. Do you believe that there is a God who is actively present in your life in healing, teaching, and guiding? If you do, you will meet with him. Because you love him, and because you see the absurdity and irrationality of not meeting with him.
This is why Nouwen says you cannot have a spiritual life without solitude, since that would be going it alone, which would be a type of practical atheism.
Pastors - if you need help with this I strongly recommend purchasing and using A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants (I used this for two years).
