PRAYER IN SOLITUDE 
In today’s society, it is rare and often unsettling to stop doing anything and just be still. Solitude is a challenging behavior and counter to most of our culture. Solitude puts us in the very place from which our efforts are designed to keep us from going or to help us escape. Being truly alone with God without an agenda is most often one of those places.
“Only alone can I draw close enough to God to discover His secrets.” -George Washington Carver! What Mr. Carver is stating is that getting to know God one must pray to Him. However, his quote goes way beyond that. Mr. Carver says that it is important to get very close to God and that can best be done in solitude. Solitude is best when one finds a special place to talk with God, but it is not only talking to God, but to draw close to God. To “draw close enough” one must stop and listen to God. So that raises the question of “How does God speak to us?”
The author of “Experiencing God”, Henry Blackabee, indicates that God speaks in different ways:
He speaks by the Holy Spirit-Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Cor. 6:19; John 14:26; John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; Jude 19-21; 1 Cor. 2:14-15 and 1 Cor. 2:10-12.
He speaks through the Bible- Eph. 6:17; Proverbs 19:21; Amos 3:7; John 17:3; Psalms 37; John 10:14; and Phil. 2:13.
He speaks through Prayer- John 14:6; John 17:3; Romans 8:26-27; Phil 2:13; and Matt. 26:36-39.
He speaks through Circumstances- John 5:17, 19-20; Job 1:6-12, 2:1-7; John 11:4; Job 42:12-17; Ex. 5-6; Luke 7:11-17; John 6:1-15; and Josh 4:2-3.
He speaks through the Church- Eph. 4:15-16; 1 Cor. 12:7-31; Eph. 4:13; and 2 Thess. 3:1-2.
He speaks through Obedience- John 14:23; Matt. 12:50; James 2:26; 1 John 2:3-6; Psalms 119:33-35; Matt. 7:21-23; Deut. 28:15-20; Jer. 7:23; John 7:16-17; Jonah 2:9- 3:10; Romans 8:28.
John 8:47- “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God”.
Jesus gave us the value and the real example of solitude- being completely alone with God away from all distractions, both human and things. Solitude is removing one’s self from their everyday environment and breath the fresh air from the Lord. It is being alone without being lonely- because God is there. Jesus modeled solitude as integral strategic components of His manner of leadership! So what are the examples of Jesus’ leadership in this issue:
1. Matthew 4:1-11- Prior to beginning His public ministry, Jesus spent forty days alone in the desert.
2. Luke 6:12-13- Jesus spent an entire night alone in the desert hills before choosing His twelve disciples.
3. Matthew 14:13- Upon learning of the death of John the Baptist, Jesus went to be alone in a boat.
4. Matthew 14:23-Right after His miracle of feeding of the five thousand men, plus many women and children, Jesus withdrew into the hills by Himself.
5. Mark 1:35- This may be the most powerful example of the critical role that solitude played in the life and leadership of Jesus. This situation is when Jesus went into solitude the next morning after healing many sick people and casting out demons, the disciples said that everyone was looking for Jesus and wanted to be with Him. Instead of doing the popular thing, Jesus prayed to the Father and then told the disciples that they must go to other towns.
These examples show that Jesus needed the time to pray to His Father and hear what God had to say. God gave even Jesus direction. So if we desire God’s direction, we need to follow Jesus’ example to pray in solitude.
TO HELP FURTHER IN HEARING WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY– COPY AND PASTE THIS LINK:
http://4fd03ku0f-4l9w6qlh25q9eh-d.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=ABIDINGINGOD
Also another link to help with Spiritual Growth:
http://f5548i1vh9vr8v1hw1rseuap3f.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=TEACHTHEBIBLE