June 22: Insight Post by Kim Feld
Monday Insight Post
by Kim Feld
We have often talked during our Monday night Bible/Prayer recordings about how we are being discipled, often unconsciously, by the things we consume. Social media, news, books, magazines, podcasts – there are a multitude of ways this is occurring, whether we realize it or not. Intentional solitude to focus on God can be an effective antidote to passive discipleship, helping us be renewed and transformed. But it takes intentional effort.
I’m not much of a social media person, but Instagram is still a big draw to me. I love the funny reels and am a sucker for anyone with a good recipe. I set a 15-minute limit on my phone, yet it’s not uncommon for me to bypass it because I enjoy this mindless, passive activity. Fifteen minutes turns into 30 minutes, which turns into an hour very easily. No effort is needed or expended for me to mindlessly scroll.
Intentional solitude is different. It DOES take effort for me to engage in it because I have to be diligent about the distractions that want to derail me. Because we are not cookie-cutter images, solitude will look differently to each of us. Some are able to engage in it best when they are moving their bodies; others need a quiet place, while others do it best out in nature. There’s a great book called Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas that explores how people connect with God through nine spiritual temperaments. The book underscores that we are uniquely created to connect with our Father.
God also invites us to solitude with Him to rest. I started wearing an Oura ring a couple of years ago because I was intrigued by the physiological information it provides. One thing that comes up for me with consistency is that I have very little restorative time in my daily life. Releasing the worries and stresses of the day is imperative for physiological restoration. When I combine God’s invitation to rest with seeing the real-time implications of a lack of rest on my body, I am once again in awe that my God knows what I need. He promises that if we come to Him, He will give us rest. Take a look:
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
We have looked at so many benefits of solitude this month! Renewal – the kind that often comes through rest and a reset of how we think – and transformation are vitally important and gifts that God will freely give us if we take Him up on His offer. It’s another area where perspective is important: I get to have solitude with God. God doesn’t demand it of me, but He offers it as a gift.
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
newhope.org