Bonnie Gray
  • Blog
  • Soul Care Quiz
  • Podcast
  • Books
    • See All Bonnie Gray Books and Resources
    • Breathe: 21 Ways to Stress Less
    • Sweet Like Jasmine
    • Whispers of Rest Book
    • Finding Spiritual Whitespace
  • About
  • Speaking
  • Contact

{Soul Rest Sunday} Whenever I’m Alone With You

By Bonnie Gray • September 14, 2014 • 19 Comments

“my soul rests quietly…only when i am alone with you.” ps62:1
{a morning prayer comes to me gentle like the dawn by fog and first light.}
carmel valley, ca 

I’m not entirely sure of what to say.

So, I just want to be quiet right now.

So,  I can be alone with you.

I need to be alone with you, Jesus.

I long to be alone with you.

But, I don’t know how.  

Help me, Lord.

Bring the calm into my heart.

Like the fog that slowly rises to touch the lips of dawn, may the quiet of this moment lift my heart close to where I can feel your heartbeat.

Or maybe the heartbeat I need to feel first is mine…

This is the place I start my Soul Rest Sunday.

A place of honesty.

A place of rest.

As is.

A Soul Conversation

Step into this moment now to be with Jesus.

Imagine Him standing close to you, as you look out into this in-between day.

As the dawn of a new week faintly warms it’s first faint glow into your heart…

In this in-between day where hopes born or dashed last week may still be clinging to you, like a leaf traveling down a creek sticking to pebbles and rocks…

In this in-between day where your heart is searching for new words and new hope, to unlock you from within, like a gentle push of a light autumn rain falling that nudges that leaf forward downstream…

Soften your shoulders, close your eyes and lean into this quiet with Jesus.

Let your breath be the sound that reminds you how much you love the quiet.

Just be alone with Him right now.  And see if you can remember what it feels like.

When it’s just you and Him.

Come. Draw near.

Listen as Jesus whispers His words to you.  Right now. Tenderly.

Look into his gaze because He wants you to see — how much He wants to just be with you.

Confide in this moment He’s longing to bring you into. Surrender what you’ve longed to say.

Hear your voice whispering to Him — in the soulful whitespace in Psalm 61:

my soul waits
in silence
for you only;

for you are my salvation.

you are my rock
and my salvation,

my stronghold;
i shall not be greatly shaken…

my soul,
wait
in silence
for God only.

for my hope is from Him.

On you,
my salvation
and my glory
rest;

the rock of my strength,
my refuge is in you.

Let me trust
in you
in all times.

Let me pour out
my heart
to you.

You are a refuge
for me.

my soul rests quietly…
only when i’m alone
with you.

Words

What are the words that touch your heart?

What is the one word, like a smooth pebble that catches your eye in the bed of a river, that capture your attention in this conversation in Psalm?

Let it be yours.

Just yours.  Only yours.

His Words

I know you find this hard.  Being here with me.  Staying here with me.

It’s been a long week.

It’s okay.

I understand.  

I won’t leave you.

These words are just for you.

I’ve been saving them, keeping them safe.

To share with you.

Whenever I’m alone with you.

They are yours.

I am yours.

In this world, that only has words that make your heart feel crowded.

That make you feel small.

Listen for me.  With me.

Rest.

Really rest.  Even if it feels you can’t.

Listen.

It’s true.

I love you.

Truly.  Deeply.

I love you.

Your Words

Confide in Jesus, as friend to friend.

~  Jesus is listening.  He longs for the words you long share with Him only.  Alone.

~  Let His complete understanding of everything you can’t begin to express touch you and comfort you today.

Let’s quietly make space for each other, offering our words as incense. As prayer.  For they are.

You are among friends. In this quiet space.

Pull up a chair. Click to comment.

{ Remember… Soul rest is soul beautiful.  You are are #soulbeautiful.}

Soul-Rest-Sunday-250b-150x1501

soulrestsunday

Share With Others

Share Your Voice

Pull up a Chair

This is a quiet space for you and me. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Click to comment »

19 Comments

Get Faith Shots

Get each post served up hot and fresh in your mailbox.

[newsletter_signup_form id=0]

9/11 and Me: A Day When Everything Stops
My One Wild Desire: Say Yes to Rest Monday (An Soulful Invitation)

Connect with Me

Bonnie Gray

Welcome to Faith Barista – a blog that serves up shots of faith for everyday life. Posts brewed hot & fresh. Hang out. Swap some stories.

You Might Also Like

  • You Are Worth Taking Care Of

  • A Prayer To Calm Your Heart When You Feel Afraid

  • Just Between You and Me: Say The Word #SoulRestMonday

  • One of the Best Ways to Experience God When You Don’t Feel Like Praying

19 Comments

  • Reply allison September 14, 2014 at 6:57 am

    thank you for this! God works and flows so strong through you and your words!!! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your obedience and willingness to share your life!

    I know I am supposed to write; of God’s great goodness, of the 4-5 times He stepped in and healed and brought me back to life. It is always unfolding before me, in my heart and mind the depth and breadth of His great goodness; of all the layers of Him throughout my life and circumstances! His presence woven in and throughout each and everything; forming an amazing tapestry of a life lived. I know it shall be beautiful when I see Him, but now all I see are the threads on the backside, going every which way; no seeming pattern. I am failing; my fingers are silent, my mind overwhelmed with ‘the stuff of life” and my heart rending, knowing where and what I should be doing! I ask for prayer in “how to”! it seems so easy of a task, to write for Him, I love Him and writing so much! But it overwhelms my being, my soul; and I realize I must write through the Spirit, or not at all.. and then it’s time for laundry…. Prayers please!! Blessings abound to you!

    • Reply Bonnie Gray September 14, 2014 at 10:21 am

      soul beautiful, allison. thank you…

  • Reply Linda September 14, 2014 at 7:50 am

    I long to be able to be quiet enough to hear Him. I feel like I am always talking or asking or reading what someone else has said about Him that resonates with my soul. I want to hear Him speak to me.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray September 14, 2014 at 10:25 am

      He has words just for you, linda…. confide in him… perhaps… in a letter journaled by your hand today…?

  • Reply dawn September 14, 2014 at 8:13 am

    I can relate to Linda about longing to be able to be quiet enough to hear HIM…not what everyone else has said about Him. To believe, TRUST and allow HIM to really & truly love, comfort, encourage, guide me…to take me on the journey He planned.

  • Reply Kay September 14, 2014 at 9:24 am

    Thank you for leading me to quiet.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray September 14, 2014 at 10:25 am

      thank you for sharing the quiet together, kay. #kindreds

  • Reply Susan Gruener September 14, 2014 at 10:53 am

    This is beautiful Bonnie. What a soothing Psalm…I love these words “my soul rests quietly…only when I’m alone with you.” With such evil and trials and challenges in the world today, I need to get alone with my Saviour daily. This is when I have true peace, peace for my soul. I smiled when I read ” a smooth pebble that catches your eye in the bed of a river”. This is one of my greatest joys in life, finding beautiful rockes He has made just for me to find. 😉 I started collecting rocks when I was about 10, and I still have them…and I am now 62. 😉 God gives us His peace and joy, but we do have to be intentional to receive them.
    May your Sabbath be blessed today!

    • Reply Wendy September 14, 2014 at 12:04 pm

      “God gives us His peace and joy, but we do have to be intentional to receive them”.

      Hi Susan, I know this to be so true. Please pray for me. I feel like my intentional will got ‘broken’ – and anxiety makes things almost impossible to process. Bless you.

      • Reply Bonnie Gray September 14, 2014 at 3:55 pm

        soul good you’re here… even in your anxiety, know in that deep place, His arms encircle you. may you feel those arms today, wendy.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray September 14, 2014 at 3:53 pm

      susan, how beautiful, the little girl in you. i hope you’ll find some pebbles to turn over in the hand of your soul today.

  • Reply Susan Gruener September 14, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    Thanks for your response to my earlier comment Bonnie. I am praying for you!
    Much love my ‘sister’!

  • Reply Lisa September 14, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    Thank you, yet again, Bonnie, for so eloquently putting into writing some of the comfort of our God in Christ Jesus.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray September 14, 2014 at 3:55 pm

      may this day be soothed with moments of rest, lisa.

  • Reply Beth Hess (JustBeBeth) September 14, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    Yes. Just Yes. To all of this. To the silence. To the intimacy. To the words He saves for our moments alone. This is Sabbath. This is grace.

  • Reply Dona September 15, 2014 at 10:54 am

    I absolutely love your “Soul Rest Sunday”. Sabbath is a gift given to us to have quiet meditation with God. We are mind, body and spirit and Sunday gives us a time of rest, a time to align ourselves completely and to prepare for the week ahead. A time we pray for the graces we will need to face whatever comes our way. thank you Bonnie for sharing your gift with us. I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful encouraging blog. peace to all.

  • Reply Nancy Ruegg September 15, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    God is my stronghold, my refuge. I can come to him and close the door against fear, inadequacy, or hurt. Within the shelter of his presence, there is peace, restoration, and rejuvenation. The storms of life may continue, and each day may present one challenge after another. But he offers grace, strength, and perseverance to continue on. “We ARE more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Praise God!

  • Reply Miriam Johnson September 16, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    In quietness and rest there is contentment. This is what I long for. Every week brings more and more stress. But God!! In my white space with Jesus. I whisper how much I love Him. Miracle of miracle, He whispers back, “you are my beloved”. Oh how I love Jesus.

  • Reply Finding Contentment: The Go-To Guide October 14, 2015 at 12:22 pm

    […] spirit. The following articles give insight on experiencing solitude with God. Being Still Whenever I’m Alone With You The Power of Quiet Desperate for a Break? Chapter 6: How To Understand and Embrace Real […]

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG

Sign up to refresh your soul with God’s love and rest. I’ll send you encouragement to nurture your heart and wellbeing. I’ll cheer you on!

SUBSCRIBE NOW»

Pull up a chair. Refresh your soul. Be inspired with soul care, stories & encouragement here. Breathe. This is a quiet space to swap some stories. Share your journey. Be the beloved. Be you. Serving up shots of faith for everyday life.
Bonnie Gray

“Bonnie has often led the way to freedom and truth by going there first herself. Her ability to invite us in as readers into our own stories only makes this world a better, more healed place.” 

– Annie F. Downs, New York Times bestselling author of That Sounds Fun

“If you’ve ever been weary and needed room to breathe, then Bonnie Gray is the guide you’ve been looking for as you journey with Jesus to a new place of peace and freedom in your life.” 

Holley Gerth, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Powerful Power of Introverts

Order Now »

LISTEN TO BONNIE’S BREATHE PODCAST

VOTED 2022 CHRISTIAN BOOK AWARD FINALIST BY ECPA

“In a world crying out for kindess and belonging, this is a book needed for our times. Sweet Like Jasmine is a gift, a beautiful remembrance, that God treasures each of our broken hearts in His sweeping story of redemption.” 

– Ann Voskamp, New York Times bestselling author of The Broken Way

Order Now »

BONNIE IS A TRUSTED VOICE TO SO MANY – FEATURED ON

Archives

Compassion International Blogger

Compassion International Blogger

Sometimes it takes more faith for us to enter into a child's story than simply praying that it changes. Experience these stories unscripted.

Read the stories»

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Instagram RSS Pinterest
Bonnie Gray

Contact

© 2018 Bonnie Gray. All rights reserved. Website by Contemplate Design | Privacy Policy
Bonnie Gray
  • Blog
  • Soul Care Quiz
  • Podcast
  • Books
  • About
  • Speaking
  • Contact