Finding a Quiet Place with God
What is the Eremos?
In the bible, “eremos” is a Greek word that translates to wilderness, desert, and solitary place. We see it in Matthew 4 during Jesus’ temptation. It can also mean a desolate place or a quiet place. The “eremos” was where Jesus went to get away. In Mark 1:35, Jesus rises early to pray in the “eremos,” or to pray in a quiet place. It was a place to escape from crowds, a refuge for the toughness of life. This was where Jesus went when the weight of ministry and life was too much.
Have you been there? Felt like life is too much?
So, I invite you to the Eremos
How can you use these resources?
The word disciple means pupil, learner, apprentice. In Jesus time, a disciple carried a different sort of definitions than how we use the word today. We might think of following someone on social media, but disciples weren't exactly those type of followers.
If I wanted to be a disciple during Jesus lifetime, I would ask to follow a Rabbi, or a teacher. I would apprentice under the Rabbi so that I could learn what the Rabbi knew, and do what the Rabbi did, so that I might one day become who the Rabbi was. I would follow my Rabbi everywhere. There was even a Jewish blessing for disciples, that "they might be covered in the dust of their Rabbi." Literally, they were following their Rabbi so closely that the dust that was kicked up as they walked down the street would get on them. You weren't just learning a bunch of knowledge, but you were learning to embody the Rabbi's way of life.
Our word apprentice embodies this concept better than follower, or perhaps even disicple. So if we want to apprentice under Rabbi Jesus, we can simply ask ourselves, what are the things that Jesus said and did, and how can I put them into practice? How can I be covered in the dust of Rabbi Jesus?
One of those practices was getting into a quiet place with God. We see Jesus routinely getting away to spend time with God, to pray, to listen, and to draw strength from him.
But what if you've never seen someone do a "quiet time?" What are you supposed to be doing once you're there? When and how often do you do it? Is it required to a be a disciple?
You may have many questions, and I want to invite you to practice getting into that quiet place. This is exactly the space and time that God has helped me find answers to all those burning questions.
So, here I'm inviting you to practice going into the Eremos with simple tools that have helped me along the way: scripture readings, written prayers, liturgies, and study guides. You don’t need to know everything to begin. You don’t need to perform or get it right. You only need to be willing to start. and keep trying.
May these resources be both practical and encouraging to you.
Scriptures
Short scripture readings meant to be read slowly and returned to often.
These passages are chosen to help you listen, notice, and remain with God rather than rush through the text.
Prayers
Simple prayers and liturgies of saints who have lived before us to help you pray when words are hard to find.
You can borrow these words and make them your own.
Study Guides
Study Guides to help you go deeper into scripture. These are often guides I've taught at church or bible study. Some are original studies, while many of them are studies that have profoundly shaped my faith.
The quiet place is not something you master or something you have to check off your to-do list. It’s a place and a time you return to, again and again. May you find some of these resources helpful as you go.
