Mar 16 Truth in Solitude

I’m on a solitude retreat- 72 hours of only me and God, 4 hours carved out for “external” things that refuel me… and hence, I’m writing.

Months ago, an encouraging word was put on my heart for a friend: Solitude is fertile soil for your heart.  God’s been whispering that back to me since I heeded His instructions on Friday to retreat- and here I am a few days later, alone- surrounded by beauty, holding up with Him.  Given my life responsibilities- this is/was no small feat and I’m treasuring every moment.

Solitude is intense for my spirit.  And the things God has called me here to work through are tough. It’s like He’s cracked my chest open and is massaging my heart with His hands- it’s painful but life giving.  It’s brutal but loving, invasive but freeing.

This is His challenge to my heart… this is my prayer…

I lay down my right to use the past to keep me from the present.

I lay down my right to use my past to keep me from my present.

I lay down my right to use Thrive’s past to keep us from Thrive’s present.

Isaiah 43:18 “But forget all that (the past, my past, Thrive’s past)- it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am going to do something new. See, I have already begun- do you not see it?

Your turn: I lay down my right to use _____ to keep me from ____

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 at 9:44 am and is filed under About Amy, All things God, Missions, My Walk. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

7 Comments on “Truth in Solitude”

kristiapplesauce Clock March 16, 2010 at 9:44 AM
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I lay down my right to use my sense of justice to keep me from following what Christ calls me to submit to.

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Amy Reply:
March 18th, 2010 at 9:16 pm

I love the challenge in the contradiction between the words justice and submit… such strong, opposite emotions. I love your heart journey.

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Lisa Clock March 16, 2010 at 9:44 AM
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Thinking of you during this time, Amy.

I lay down my right to use fear…… to keep me from being all He wants me to be.

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Amy Reply:
March 18th, 2010 at 9:18 pm

Thank you, Lisa… my retreat exceeded my expectations. God did some intense but good stuff in my heart and I’m ready to move forward in “laying down my right”… even though it’s tough!!!

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Lisa Reply:
March 18th, 2010 at 10:04 pm

Love hearing this, Amy. He never fails to meet with us in such an intense way when we seek Him that purposefully, does He?

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Anna Clock March 16, 2010 at 9:44 AM
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I am with you…

I lay down my right to use my past to keep me from my present…..

I also lay down my right to use my past to keep me from my future….

Thanks for this, this was perfect for me today! I am going through something from the past and it has the ability to completely shake me if I let it, but I don’t want to let it. God used your words to answer a question in my heart.

Love to you,

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Amy Reply:
March 18th, 2010 at 9:21 pm

Hi Anna :) I love how God can use the same truth to speak to so many of us- at just the right time. You aren’t alone in walking a journey of laying down stuff from the past… it can be SO INCREDIBLY HARD. But we’re never alone in the journey. I feel the weight of your words, that this struggle has the ability to “completely shake you”. If I can pray/support/stand with you more specifically- let me know how to! Love right back to you…

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