Becoming Like Jesus: Silence and SolitudeSample

Comfort and Conviction

Pray…

Heavenly Father, I am seeking you wholeheartedly. Jesus, I am surrendering to your will and your ways. Holy Spirit, I am listening for your voice and guidance. Make me aware of your presence. I know you are here. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

“Am I only a God nearby,”

declares the Lord,

“and not a God far away?

24 Who can hide in secret places

so that I cannot see them?”

declares the Lord.

“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”

declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23-24 NIV

Consider…

What God is showing us here is that He is everywhere—He’s omnipresent. His presence fills the heavens and the earth and there is no space or place He cannot reach. That means there is no hiding from Him, which brings comfort and conviction. Comfort because we are never alone. And conviction because not even the deepest parts of us are hidden from His sight.

In what ways does God’s presence bring you comfort?

In what ways does God’s presence bring conviction?

Ask God to search your heart and bring His light to any dark places. Do you need to confess to someone today? There is healing and freedom on the other side of confession.

Listen…

Set a timer for 5-10 minutes.

Lead into your listening by finding a comfortable place to sit with your palms open and pray this prayer from St. Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

Ask God to speak to you.

When you get distracted, come back to Jesus by continuing to ask Him to search your heart. Pray Psalm 139 over yourself as you finish this Plan today.