{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Entering into the Wilderness of Solitude and Silence","description":"Thoughts taken from John Mark Comer's book, "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry." \u201cLittle moments throughout our day wake us up to the reality of God all around us.\u201d Pg. 121 Today by Mary Oliver   Today I'm flying low and I'm not saying a word. I'm letting all of the voodoos of ambition sleep. The world goes on as it must, the bees in the garden rumbling a little, the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten. And so forth.   But I'm taking the day off. Quiet as a feather.   I hardly move though really I'm traveling a terrific distance. Stillness. One of the doors into the temple.   Matt 4:1 Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit, to be tested, tried, tempted.1. to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline \u1f14\u03c1\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2: 2048 \u00e9r\u0113mos \u2013 properly, an uncultivated, unpopulated place; a desolate (deserted) area; (figuratively) a barren, solitary place that also provides needed quiet (freedom from disturbance). In Scripture, a "desert" (2048 \/\u00e9r\u0113mos) is ironically also where God richly grants His presence and provision for those seeking Him. The limitless Lord shows Himself strong in the "limiting" (difficult) scenes of life. (\u00e9r\u0113mos) in the strict sense expresses a lack of population (not merely "sparse vegetation") https:\/\/biblehub.com\/greek\/2048.htm   \u201cFrom the call of Abraham to the exile of Israel, God repeatedly shapes His people in lonely places. The Greek Old Testament (LXX) uses er\u0113mos to translate the Hebrew midbar, the setting of Sinai revelation, tabernacle worship, prophetic preparation, and chastening wanderings. By retaining this vocabulary, the New Testament presents a seamless continuation: the same God who met Israel in the desert now meets His people in Christ.\u201d   The wilderness is a place of strength: \u201cthat\u2019s why, over and over again, you see Jesus come back to the eremos.\u201d P. 125   \u201cThe friend of silence draws near unto God.\u201d John Climacus Pg. 132. Lewis quote.   Come away          He said to them, \u201cCome away          to a deserted place all by yourselves          and rest a while.\u201d                          \u2014Mark 6.31 Come away. The world will turn without you. Let go of the \u201chave to,\u201d the should, the ought. Notice what you set down: the weight of expectations, the feeling of proving yourself to yourself. Notice how you feel, unburdened: At peace? Anxious? Free? Afraid? Waiting for the gavel to drop? Notice\u2026 What if it\u2019s OK? It\u2019s OK. Practice this sabbath exercise, this holy desertion so you may take it with you into the crowd. \u2022 You honor what is in your hands only if you hold it lightly. \u2022 Come away to the place of solitude where you already are, waiting for you. _________________      Steve Garnaas-Holmes  Unfolding Light  www.unfoldinglight.net    July 14, 2021  Published July 14, 2021 https:\/\/unfoldinglight.net\/2021\/07\/page\/2\/   ","author_name":"REFLECTING LIGHT","author_url":"http:\/\/www.reflectinglight.org","html":"