The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Week 7 | Silence and Solitude | Part 2
READ CHAPTER 8: p130 - 134
Explore it more
REFLECT | 'What is going on in our life right now?’
Discuss
Did you manage to implement the ONE THING you said you were going to do differently this week? Why/Why not? (Not supposed to be condemning, just an acknowledgement)
How did you get on with the ‘breathe prayer'?
ENGAGE | ‘How do we engage with what God is saying to us?
Discuss
What does your external and internal noise sound like? What does it say about you?
How strong is the ‘pull away’ in your life, from seeking Silence and Solitude with God?
Phil Clarke said it was like ‘having to squeeze ourselves out of everyday life’.
Discuss the impact of Jesus’ decisions to take himself away for example - Luke 5: 15-16
Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their illnesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
PRACTICAL EXERCISE | Silence and Solitude, Exercise 2 | Listening Prayer
Click here for the JMC’s thoughts on doing this.
Take time to go through this
A a few minutes everyday over the next three weeks to practice this.
INSPIRE | - 'How do we inspire change in each other? What are we going to do / change / do differently this week?'
Discuss
What ONE thing am I going to do differently this week?
How can we INSPIRE each other to practice the ‘Listening Prayer’ this week?
Go Deeper
To reflect on this week
What elements of your internal noise do you struggle with most?
Replaying of lousy conversation with a friend over and over a again
Lustful thoughts for the girl or guy down the street
Our fantasies
sexual
revenge - saying this or doing that to our enemies
Our worry - the ‘what if?’
Hypothetical scenarios
Role playing the future
Catastrophizing
Idealising
Dreaming the perfect life
Other …..
Take time this week, to bring any unhealthy and often toxic mindset patterns before Jesus, and ask him to help you renew you mind.
Another form of Listening Prayer :