Solitude

How much solitude do we have....simply enjoying God's presence?
Jesus spent forty days and nights in solitude with His Father before beginning His earthly ministry. He was able to deal with the tempter who tempted Jesus with the three compulsions that Christians, and especially preachers, are tempted with.

1)to be relevant (turn stones into bread)
2)to be spectacular (throw yourself down)
3)to be powerful (I will give you all these kingdoms)

Jesus simply affirmed God as the only source of His identity (Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve). We worry about being affirmed in our identities hoping others will validate us as smart, or a good preacher, or great Christian.
A Christian writer penned this: "There is freedom in an identity that is anchored in a place beyond all human praise and blame."

Solitude, or time spent alone with God, is the best place to reclaim that identity and to be strengthened spiritually. Then church, witnessing, preaching, living...become all the more worthwhile.
Not trying to preach today...just sharing my thoughts.