Good morning,

Our devotion for todaycomes from Hebrew 13:5 "Don't fall in love with money.  Be satisfied with what you have.  The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us." (CEV) 

Wherever you are today, meditate on this; many people spend long hours by themselves, but are never lonely.  Conversely, others are constantly surrounded by people, yet are incredibly lonely.  There is a distinction between loneliness and solitude; solitude is being alone by choice, Jesus often sought solitude.  Loneliness, however, is defined as seperation anxiety caused by a sense of disconnection.

Loneliness finds people in many ways: prisoners, mothers, latch-key kids, even pastors are often cut off from fellowship with others because of personal circumstances.  When we are lonely we can respond in one of two ways: we can be driven to destructive habits or be driven to God. 

It is not God's intention that we be lonely.  He has desired, since creation, for us to fellowship with Him.  The solution to loneliness, therefore, is first to bring it to the Lord.  He understands our loneliness and sent Christ to reconnect us with Himself.  "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Cor.5:17-18).

When we enter into a personal relationship with Christ, we are never alone.  We may spend time alone, but we can do so in solitude with Christ, our greatest comforter and friend.

Have a blessed day!

Your brother in Christ,