DAY #13: Practice Solitude, Slow Down, Stop the Noise | June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing Your Mind”

Thursday, June 13, 2024 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”

DAY #13: Practice Solitude, Slow Down, Stop the Noise

Devotional reading from “Winning the Battle for Your Mind,” Chapter Six ~ Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

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Today’s Lesson

Isaiah 30:15, For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.“ But you would not, 16] and you said, “No, for we will flee on horse”--therefore you shall flee! And, “We will ride on swift horses”--therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!

We live in a noisy world. This noise pervades and invades every space, including our minds.

When I received Jesus as Lord and Savior on July 8, 1978, the first thing I noticed was that the noise in my head stopped. That noise seemed like a combination of static, thoughts of self-hatred, voices, and random sounds. When the Spirit of Christ entered my life that noise ceased.

Today, as Christ followers, we deal with a different type of noise. It is the noise of all the things that are irrelevant, self-condemning, distracting, troubling and more. The difference between the “noise” in my life then and now is that I can deal with it –– if I choose to do so.

1 Corinthians 3:17 reads, “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” There will be no noise when the Spirit of the Lord is in control.

Let me suggest that you discover SOLITUDE if you have not already discovered it. Jesus practiced solitude regularly as part of His lifestyle. You will notice that He would send people away to go into solitude and pray. (Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46–47; John 6:15). The Apostle Paul began his ministry in solitude for about three years. (Galatians 1:11–20)

Our Scripture text today, speaks of God advising His people as follows: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

But they were too “busy” to take God's advice. Their response: “But you would not, and you said, ‘No, for we will flee on horses’--therefore you shall flee!”

Rather than slow down, they went faster. The thing with noise and busy-ness is this: It never helps you, it only overcomes and defeats you. “...therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!”

Slow down. Get alone with God. Stop the noise in His presence. Practicing solitude is a discipline of a renewed mind.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What is solitude and do you practice it?

2. What good things happen when you slow down and get alone with God?

ACTION ITEMS (What I will do with what I have learned):

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“Winning the Battle for Your Mind”