Genesis 2:18 says, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” This shows us that God is a relational God; therefore, we were created in His image as relational beings. One of the worst punishments people can receive in prison is solitary confinement. In confinement, prisoners are often placed indefinitely in a space with very limited human interaction. The reason this punishment is so harsh is we were not created to live this way. The greatest commandment given to us is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind; and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–39). This requires us to be in community with God and with others. The Creator of the heavens and earth desires an intimate and personal relationship with you.

Describe a time when you either lived in community or lived in seclusion.

If you have been living a secluded life, what can you do to change that?