Alone with God

Introduction

Over the past several weeks we have been going through a series called, “Basic Training.” We began our Basic Training learning to talk to God. We used the ACTS—Adore, Confess, Thanksgiving, Supplication as our prayer model. Then we trained on Getting into God’s Word. We talked about spending 7 minutes with God! 1/2 minute preparing yourself, followed by 4 minutes of reading the Bible, and concluding 2 1/2 minutes of Prayer using the ACTS method. 7 minutes with God! Next we have trained on Thinking On These Things—keeping our mind focused on all that is godly, through Scripture Memory, and Meditating on God’s Word. Then last week we focused on Living Simply.

This morning we want to talk about spending time Alone with God. Solitude, and quiet are two things many people do not like. We don’t like the idea of silence—and we really don’t like being alone.

Many people fill their lives with all kinds of noise—music, TV, YouTube, and social media are a few ways we fill our lives with noise. At the same time we will our lives with people—all kinds of people. And for many, being alone is a fate they cannot stand!

Others live by FOMO—or the Fear Of Missing Out! Many of us are afraid of missing out of something—even though we may not be sure what that something is—we still don’t want to miss out!

Then there are others of us that live lives that are overflowing with busyness. For many, this busyness leads to increase stress levels, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. There simply is too much coming in too fast and we are overwhelmed, discouraged, and afraid!

That’s when God says to us:

Psalm 46:10 NIV84

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be Still and Know

God says to us, that we need be still. The idea here is that we need to slow down, stop being busy, and be alone with God!

Then the God says, and know that I am God. The idea of knowing, or understanding, or experience God’s work in your life.

So God tells us that we need to stop, be alone, and experience God’s work in our lives. Then he tells us He will be honored by every nation. And He will be honored throughout the whole world!

When we slow down, get alone with God and experience His work in our lives, He will be honored in every nation, and throughout the world!

You know, many of us know the first part of this verse this verse, we’ve heard it quoted time and time again. But this morning I want us to stop and look at the entire eleven verses of this Psalm. I want us to see this verse in its context.

Psalm 46

Psalm 46:1–11 NIV84

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

1. God is our refuge and strength.

Refuge—shelter

Strength—protection

2. An ever-present help in trouble.

God is always there—ever-present! and He is there when you find yourself in trouble!

3. No matter what happens—no fear!

—Verses 2-3— If the earth gives way—earthquakes, or the mountains crumble into the sea, or the oceans roar with foam. Even if the mountains shake as the waters rage—I will have not fear!

4. The wonder of heaven!

—Verses 4-7— Look and long for heaven!

A river that brings joy to the city of God.

Heaven the sacred home of the Most High.

The place where God dwells.

A place that cannot be destroyed, because God always protects it.

When the nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble, and God pours out judgment—God is our Fortress!

4. Look at the works of the Lord!

—Verses 8-11—

God can bring destruction upon the earth!

God can make ALL the wars on the earth end!

God can destroy all the weapons that mankind have—breaks the bow, shatters the spear, burns up the shields.

It is in this context that God tells us to be still and know that He is God! You and I can be still because God has everything under His control! Yet another reason we can be confident in God, another reason we can be still and know that He is God is because of verse 11!

Psalm 46:11 NIV84

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Did you catch this? YHWH Almighty really means YHWH the great warrior is here among us! We can take time to be still and alone in the midst of chaos because the our God the Might Warrior is right here among us! Not only that, but He is our fortress—our impenetrable defense!

SO WHAT are the Benefits of Solitude with God

We get to know God! (v. 10)

We get to experience God as our shelter and protection (v. 1).

We can experience His care for us no matter what is going on around us! (v. 2-3)

Our focus is on Heaven instead of all the crazy things that are happening in the world around us! (v. 4-7)

We will actually see God work all around us! (v. 8)

God will bring us peace (v. 9)!

We will experience God’s protection all around us! (v. 11)

How Can We Experience Solitude?

Take little solitude breaks throughout the day.

Develop a quiet place—a place of no words.

Try a day without words, or a day without all the distractions.

Four times per year take 3 to 4 hours to reset your priorities (goals) with God.