As promised today at Grace Fellowship, over the next few weeks I’ll include some things in this blog that I learned (or am learning) in conjunction with the time of sabbatical you allowed me this summer.
Today’s message was about the deception of isolation. Isolating ourselves from an authentic relationship with God and/or from people who want to help us discover and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ is one of the worst decisions we can make.
At the same time, intentionally choosing times to isolate ourselves from the busyness of life by spending time alone with God is one of the wisest decisions we can make. This summer, one of the passages of Scripture that grabbed my heart was Psalm 46:10. In the Message paraphrase, it says: “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”
It’s a reminder that we need to intentionally spend time in a positive form of isolation where we step out of the normal traffic of life and focus our attention on God. I’m striving to spend a few minutes every day in addition to my normal time alone with God in quiet solitude where I focus my thoughts on Him and His Word and declare my utmost dependance upon Him. I hope you’ll consider doing the same.
BJ Rutledge 
Dear Pastor,
Several months ago you preached on having a quiet time and taking time out to study God’s word. You mentioned if your doing more now then you did a week ago that was progress. Now I search him daily and more and more I’m turning to him first for decisions. However your total dependence really struck home yesterday. Thank you for your message.
It’s amazing how many interesting ideas will leap to my mind when I actually do decide to spend time with God. It’s almost as if that time is opposed. Redoubling my efforts. Thanks for the reminder.