Rest And Solitude: A Monastic Way Of Life

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“He said to them, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat). So they went away by themselves in a boat to some remote place.” Mark 6:31-32 (New English Translation). Jesus understood the importance of rest and solitude. This was common practice with Jesus during His earthly walk. Rest and solitude are not training tools used in everyday life. We set time for retreats and getaways, however, this is usually an annual or specific event. Technology has increased our workflow (emails, texts, Skype®, etc.), that time off rarely exists. Solitude is essential to hear God’s voice in our lives. Willard states, “A major service of spiritual disciplines—such as solitude …show more content…

Communities were set up to protect the new founded monastic way of living. Collinge continues, “Desert Fathers and Mothers. Beginning in the late third century, many Christian men and women took to the desert, especially in Egypt but also in Palestine and Syria, in order to pursue prayer and asceticism.” This way of living set up a Christian monastic or monasticism lifestyle. The lifestyle meant that the person would live a life separate from the regular world; not be conformed to standard living. Collinge goes on to …show more content…

Practicing this solace lifestyle gives the soul a replenishing and renewal that connects with the spirit of God. The strengths of performing solitude and silence assists with the transforming of minds (Rom. 12:2) and to allow the Saints to quiet their spirit and hear the voice of Christ. Jesus said in John 10:27 (New King James Version), “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” To hear Christ, we must have our mind, body, and spirit in a place of silence and solitude. Smith, Foster, and Graybeal writes, “From Jesus we see, hear, and learn about God’s nature. Because he knew what God is like, Jesus—as we have seen—frequently spent time with him in solitude and in prayer. These two factors—the nature of God and the practice of Jesus—gave birth to the Contemplative

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