IN TOUCH DEVOTIONAL 29TH MARCH 2024 BY DR. CHARLES STANLEY, FRIDAY MESSAGE
In Touch Devotional 29th March 2024 TOPIC: Never Really Alone
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Psalm 139:7-10; Psalm 23:1-4
Jesus occasionally went off by Himself, leaving even His disciples behind. We might consider this His recharging time—when the Lord regrouped after the intensity of ministry. But Jesus’ purpose was not really to be alone but to find space to meet and be with His Father. For Him (and for us), that’s the real promise of solitude: a quiet that allows us to hear God’s voice.
We live in a world bristling with noise, so finding solitude is essential. However, we shouldn’t assume that we’ll be alone, not if we pursue the kind of solitude Jesus sought. The psalmist writes, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (139:7-8). The answer is, nowhere. And this is a good thing. Anywhere he might try to escape from God—high, low, and everywhere in between—God is there. And He’s not only present but also engaged: “Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will take hold of me” (v. 10).
Plenty of people want time to focus on themselves—in other words, “me time.” But as Christians, we must pursue the kind of solitude that removes distractions and makes space for us to encounter the Lord.
Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 17-18
Thought: Solitude provides the space for us to hear our Savior’s loving voice.
Dr. Charles Stanley was the founder of In Touch Ministries and a New York Times best-selling author. Throughout his ministry, he demonstrated a keen awareness of people’s needs and provided Christ-centered biblically based principles for everyday life.