As I’ve entered my adult years, I’ve quickly learned to become independent and fond of being alone. Going shopping, to the movies, to coffee shops have all became even more so fun by myself. This is a great time to get to know myself more but also do things I’ve been meaning to do but haven’t got anyone to go with because schedules don’t seem to line up.
I’ve strived to make this a monthly habit. However recently I’ve discovered rather than simply go on solo dates, why wouldn’t I use this as an opportunity to spend time with God.
I’ve just returned from a solo trip to a little island in the east coast of Canada, Prince Edward Island. I treated this trip as a solo spiritual retreat. I surrendered my schedule and my plans and ultimately used this time to explore a new place, see God’s creations, dive into His word, create space to hear Him and devote time to prayer. Here are steps you can incorporate while planning your next solo date with God.
1. Surrender your schedule to God
Set devoted time aside to him, however often you can spare. In the midst of our busyness, can we let go of the tasks running through or mind and prioritize stillness and time with God above all else? Will we surrender our schedule and be flexible to wherever God wants us to go. Can we trust him and know he will steward our time wisely, better than we can? Can we become Mary in a world full of Marthas? I can’t deny that I resonate with Martha. Checking off tasks in my quiet time routine as opposed to simply sitting with God. But He simply wants us to sit in His presence. Can you make time to do that this week?
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42
2. Pray before your time with God
Pray that he blesses this time with you and reveals anything He wants to say to you. Come expectant, but do not set expectations for what you want Him to say. Simply ask God to reveal a new thing to you.
3. Pick a devotional or chapter in the Bible
Pick a devotional that you’re currently reading or pick a chapter in the Bible. Study the word and reflect on the key takeaways from scripture. Is God speaking to you through this passage?
4. Listen
During my quiet time, I often race through my devo, prayer and journal time. Then I’m done, right? I’ve spent my daily time with God and have read scripture, what more could I do? I often forget to pause and listen. How can we hear from God if we simply run through our quiet time with Him and not leave space for God to speak?
5. Obey
This one seems simple but may be the hardest one to carry out. During your time with God, you may have heard Him speak to you. What has He asked you to do? What are the next steps He has for you? The challenge is to obey. I often hesitate and overthink when I feel the Holy Spirit ask me to do something. Was that my own thought or was that God? Although some decisions that God has put on your heart may require more time and input from others, ask God to reveal to you the next steps in His will for you. But the underlying takeaway here is to obey in what God reveals and calls you to do.
Sometimes what God asks of us may not make sense to us in the present (and maybe not in the future), but we’re not here to be the judge of if what God says makes sense. Our obligation is to simply obey.
Jesus often woke up early to make time for God by Himself. To create intimacy with God, to hear Him clearly and to ensure His will was carried out. Let’s follow Jesus’ model in being intentional about creating time for God in your schedule and how you spend that time in solitude.
Great post! I’m so glad your trip was an incredible experience 💖