I am writing a daily blog (Monday to Friday) on preparing spiritually and physically

to lead a Pilgrimage of 100 miles in September.

for details of the Pilgrimage, click on the dropdown Cotswold Pilgrimage bar at the top of this page

I’ve been posting about retreats recently –

ideas for a 24 hour retreat

http://www.ministriesbydesign.org/2012/06/12/refresh-renew-recreate-retreat/

thoughts on a 10 day silent retreat

http://www.ministriesbydesign.org/2012/06/13/bubbles-and-silence-a-10-day-retreat/

special places to go for a Retreat

http://www.ministriesbydesign.org/2012/06/20/760/

A one minute retreat anywhere anytime

http://www.ministriesbydesign.org/2012/06/21/a-one-minute-retreat/

And today I want to urge you to do one or more of these things.

To spend some time alone with God.

To BE in His Presence.

Even if it’s just a minute.

I’ve been reading Elijah’s story this week. http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Guide-Bible-Chronological-Reading/dp/1415871051/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1340347029&sr=8-2&keywords=Guthrie+Chronological+BIble

How he interacted with life and then withdrew for spiritual sustenance.

Braving Ahab and then being ministered to by ravens sent by God at the Wadi Cherith. A most remote place yet a place where God tenderly looks after him.

Staying quietly with a widow and healing her son, and knowing the Lord’s provision daily.

Calling down fire from God on the soaking sacrifice, ending the drought and showing God’s power.

Fleeing to a cave when his life was threatened and an angel providing him with food, and the same at the next cave.

Feeling all alone, the only one left who worshipped God; and then the privilege of knowing the Presence of the Lord – the still small voice in the sheer silence.

The times of solitude were not easy for Elijah.

But it was then that he knew the Lord and experienced Him in unimaginable ways.

Thomas a Kempis wrote in the 15^th Century:

The person who wants to arrive at interiority and spirituality has to leave the crowd behind and spend some time with Jesus. Nobody’s comfortable in public unless he spends a good deal of time in the quiet of his own home. Better to lie still in one’s cubicle and worry about one’s spiritual welfare. Worse, to roam the streets, a wonder-worker for others, to the neglect of one’s own spiritual life.

God tells us, as he told Elijah – Go and hide yourself by the stream.

It’s there that He will tenderly minister to our needs.

Does busyness really fulfill you?

What prevents you from making times of solitude, even if it’s just one minute, a part of your everyday life?

Can you trust God to give you all you need through times of solitude with Him?