Outward Discipline: Solitude

Outward Discipline, Spiritual Habit of SOLITUDE 

Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

Exodus 33:7-11 – 7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring  of the  Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud  would come down and stay at the entrance, while the  Lord  spoke  with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The  Lord  would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua  son of Nun did not leave the tent. 

Practice SOLITUDE by… 

#1 – a place. 

Exodus 33:7 – Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.”  

Where is of meeting?  

Mark 1:35 – Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 

Practice solitude by… 

#2 – Repeatedly . 

Exodus 33:7-8 – Anyone inquiring  of the  Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.

Luke 5:16 – Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. 

Psalm 42:1-2 – As the deer  pants for streams of water, so my soul pants  for you, my God. ²My soul thirsts  for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?  

#3- Being for to show up! 

Exodus 33:9 – As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud  would come down and stay at the entrance, while the  Lord  spoke  with Moses.

Exodus 33:11 – The  Lord  would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp. 

James 4:8 – Come near to God and he will come near to you.  

Jeremiah 29:13 – You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

Proverbs 8:17 – I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. 

Luke 11:9-10 – ⁹Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 

1 Kings 19:9, 12 – [Elijah] went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him… after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Acts 10:9 – About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof  to pray.