The Lily Letters

The art of Solitude Psalms 23:1-3 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.[a] He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness[b] for his name's sake.” Back in January, I had the most spontaneous idea ever. I decided to book a hotel room away from my parents for the weekend for Valentine's day. This specific resort may or may not have been next to my house. During that weekend I was able to reflect and hear more from God and also relax from being busy with my job and school. There were different times where Jesus took time alone to pray and to spend time with God. This introduced the spiritual discipline of solitude, where we intentionally withdraw ourselves from our daily routines to focus on God. Richard J. Foster states that Solitude can help: 1. Free us from distractions 2. Find our true selves 3. Communicate with God 4. Develop Hope. Some simple ways we can practice solit...

The following devotional is adapted from a sermon titled "That All My Know," given by Rev. Jennifer Mullins at Gayton Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia on October 13, 2024: Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 17:32-37; 41-50 David and Goliath is one of the top recognizable stories around the world, whether in secular or religious circles. So recognizable that it is a popular trope in pop culture. For example, have you ever seen or heard a story or show that depicts: The little guy standing up to a bully... A ragtag, underdog team winning the championship against the favored yet despised team... A small lawyer winning a case for a small town against a large corporation... These are the David and Goliath stories we all know. We love the fearful becoming courageous, the weak becoming strong. After all, we want the giants in our own lives to fall. It inspires us. Yet this is not the actual point of David and Goliath. Instead, here are 4 major lessons more importantly gleaned fr...