"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed." Mark 1:35 NIV
Jesus knew what it was like to have a full schedule. He ministered to crowds of people. He was in high demand. People were always trying to get near Him. Jesus made it a practice to find alone time with His Heavenly Father. He had to make an effort to find times of solitude.
Being alone with God isn't always easy. We find ways to stay too busy. We get programmed to fill our time with other things. We wake up and turn on the news. We get in the car and turn on the radio. We boot up the computer. Even when we find time to walk or jog, we turn on the IPOD.
We need to make the time to be alone with God. When the static of the world around us is muted, we can then listen to the voice of the Lord. I have learned to set apart times of solitude with God. It may be in my truck with the radio turned off. It may be when I'm jogging, taking a hike, on the back of a horse, or sitting alone in my living room. It is during these intentional times of solitude, that I can listen to God through prayer, reading His word, or just being still & silent. They are very special and invaluable times in my relationship with Jesus.
What are the ways that you can set apart one-on-one time with your Heavenly Father? What's keeping you from it?
"Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13 NLT
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