I began Inscribe the Word Scripture Writing Plans in 2016, and every year, I am in awe of how God uses these plans to bring hundreds of thousands of people to Scripture. I am humbled and honored to bring this resource to you.

This year, our theme is The Spiritual Disciplines. By placing daily spiritual rhythms in our lives, my husband and I have decided to rebuild our lives around our apprenticeship to Jesus. You can read more about that HERE.

Each month in 2022, we will focus on a new spiritual discipline. I will also be including some books and resources to help you put that discipline into practice in your everyday lives. In January, we inscribed verses focused on Sabbath Rest. This February, our Scripture passages were on prayer. In March, we continued our study of the Spiritual Disciplines and studied Fasting. In April, we focused on the beauty of Praise & Worship. This month, we take on a new discipline . . .

Silence & Solitutde.

My prayer is that you see these not as legalistic rules but as ways to Abide in the Vine each and every day. (John 15:1-8)

“In the chaos of the urban, digital age, it’s easier than ever before to “gain the whole world, and yet lose your soul.” How do we stay emotionally alive and spiritually awake? Among the ancient practices of the way, “Silence & Solitude” is the number one practice for apprenticeship to Jesus. Simply put, it’s a moment of intentional time in the quiet to be alone with God. In the modern era, this just might be the first step to a life well lived.” (Source)

Out of all the Spiritual Disciplines, ancients and moderns alike would agree that Silence and Solitude are the most important. Dallas Willard says that practicing solitude with silence is the most important spiritual discipline for people today. In our busy, noisy world, we need to “unhook” and get away to be alone and be ourselves with our Lord.

When I started really sinking in and observing the spiritual disciplines in 2021, a daily rhythm of silence and solitude was integral to my spiritual health. I heard the still small voice of the Father. I disconnected from the world for a few hours a day to just be with Jesus. I discovered why Jesus so often withdrew by Himself to be with the Father. I found that when I stopped talking, He started.

Throughout this series, I’ve often quoted Adele Ahlberg Calhoun. Her book Spiritual Disciplines has been a practical tool to help me walk through these wonderful rhythms.

About Silence and Solitude she says,

“It is difficult to find silence in an age of technology and information. Silence challenges our cultural addiction to amusement, words, music, advertising, noise, alarms and voices. Silence asks for patience and waiting. And both silence and waiting make us uncomfortable. They seem so unproductive. We can’t tell if we are doing anything in them. So when we come upon silence, we fill it. We cram it with something else we can learn or do or achieve.
This habit of glancing at words and people extends to our relationship with God. We want pithy, memorable sermons. We want more religious words to chew on. The trouble is there are so many other things we are trying to remember that the sermon evaporates by the time we reach the parking lot. Could it be that what we need is time alone with God and a lot fewer words? Do we need to put on the “Do Not Disturb” button and learn what it is to be available to God alone?
We need solitude if we intend to unmask the false self and its important-looking image. Alone, without distractions, we put ourselves in a place where God can reveal things to us that we might not notice in the normal preoccupations of life. Solitude opens a space where we can bring our empty and compulsive selves to God. And no matter how well we “do” silence, God is there to accept, receive and love us. God longs for us to be our true self in Christ. He wants us to be who we are meant to be. In solitude we see how little we embrace our true identity in Christ. And we find the truth of who we are in Christ. We are the beloved, and God is pleased with us.” (Source)

For me, moments of Silence and Solitude are a daily practice. I start my day very early in the morning and sit with Jesus. I take about twenty to thirty minutes to sit by myself in silence. No journaling. No Scripture. No prayer. I just sit in the Presence of God. Much of the time, I fight off the day's to-do list, memories that want to invade, conversations that I didn't have, the day's activities, and the menu for dinner!

In those moments when thoughts try to invade, I say four words to bring me back to the moment with Jesus . . . "Jesus, You are here." And if I have to say those four words a hundred times in twenty minutes, then one hundred times, I am reminded that I am in the presence of God.

This is my daily rhythm.

Once a month, I try to take a whole day by myself just to be silent and be in the Lord's presence. I usually go to the beach or the woods and walk. No phone. I leave that in the car or at home. And I walk with the Lord. I will bring a journal, my Bible, and a pen and just spend time with Jesus.

There is no set way to incorporate silence and solitude into your own daily rhythm. The links and books below may help you flush one out, and I hope you will. Because I firmly believe that this practice is a key to the abundant life that Jesus offers. (Matthew 11:28-30)

BOOKS, PODCASTS, RESOURCES and WEBSITES

Solitude and Silence by Soul Shepherding
Practicing Silence & Solitude by Practicing the Way
The Spiritual Disciplines: Silence & Solitude by The Art of Manliness
Silence & Solitude Teaching Series by Bridgetown Church
Practicing Silence by Emotionally Healthy Spirituality