About the Author

ALIZA LATTA is a writer, artist, and pastor who is a huge fan of telling stories. She creates content for Canada’s largest youth conference, Change Conference, and is a church planter in Ontario, Canada. Her artwork and writing have been featured in publications for LifeWay, Dayspring, and (in)courage. She is...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Such soothing words to read this morning. I am moving back to a place where I have a strong community of friends and a church community that I have so missed the past several years. Now more than ever, I realize the importance of this. I have tried to read my bible more and have Jesus in my life but need that community too.

  2. Beautiful words, Aliza: “We need Him and we need each other.” As a senior citizen grandmother, I have also come to the same realization more fully these past two years. Thank you for sharing such important thoughts for all to contemplate and implement. God’s blessings!

  3. Truth upon truth, Aliza! Thank you for sharing this very timely devotional today. It’s been challenging to get back into community after the pandemic, but so worth it! And being “contemplative” has been something I’ve discovered through the past few years. Again, challenging, but life-changing!

  4. I joyfully spend time with the Lord in his word and prayer. I look for a community but I won’t sacrifice truth. Lies are from the devil. I lovingly push back from lies and untruths and am usually rejected. I know I do it in a Kind way. My community is my husband and I right now but I trust God to bring us to others when the time is right.

  5. I am finding it difficult to get back into attending church instead of watching it online. My times of contemplation are few and far between. I have started auditing a class at a college just so I can be with people and study the Bible at the same time. I am enjoying being with people but sometimes I get down on myself and think it’s all just a substitute for going to church and spending time with God and his Word.

  6. From the other comments here I’d say your story hit home for many reading it. Recently, over the last 7 months or so, I started having quiet time each morning after my kids are off to school and just being. Just meditating on God meditating on his son and just finding peace there.
    It is truly amazing what happens when you begin something like this something so small begins to unravel into something larger, in a good way, in my opinion anyway. I find that my spiritual circle continues to grow not as much in community but within myself and unlike others getting back to church weekly has not happened yet since the pandemic but I believe I am headed in that direction.
    Thank you for a gentle article with a beautiful sweet message

  7. Thank you! As a senior adult, I too am learning the joy that comes from spending time alone with Jesus throughout my day and also in community with others. I am doubly blessed.

  8. Over twenty years ago I committed to making an Ignatian Retreat over a nine month period with a spiritual director. We met in person weekly and I was assigned scripture and did daily contemplation and journaling. It changed me forever and brought me closer to Jesus and to knowing my true self. It also helped me make a deeper connection with community. It was a difficult commitment to make but I’m so grateful I did, thanks to the help of the Holy Spirit!

  9. AMEN, Aliza. It takes both–time alone with Jesus, and time in community with his people–to fully develop into the men and women he desires us to be. There’s great satisfaction, too, in the rhythm of taking in and giving out!

  10. Yes we need both individual & community time with Jesus. It’s my experience when in balance the 1 on 1 time points me to community & the community time points me to 1 on 1 time. God created us as complex beings & this concept is just another testament to His creativeness!

  11. Aliza,

    It is so easy to get stuck in a rut. The pandemic took us away from community & church. We had to watch services on Facebook or TV preachers. For most of us that became the norm. The isolation made people lackadaisical about their spiritual well being. People were/are simply worn out. Like you said we all could use a reset. We missed the interaction of friends & family and the accountability that comes with meeting together. I was blessed that my in-law’s church was still meeting. I would attend there & see my MIL occasionally. It helped me stay focused on Christ & is love for me. Everyone needs Jesus, His love & many hugs from others.

    Blessings 🙂