“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16 NIV1984). Jesus had just healed a man with leprosy. When news got out, a crowd of people went looking for Him to be healed of their sicknesses. Jesus needed to get away — alone with God.
Spending time communing with the Father was of utmost importance to Jesus. Soimportant that He “often” went to isolated places where it was just Him and God, no one else. He found solace in the mountains, in the Garden of Gethsemane, or in deserted areas. He intentionally made time to have fellowship with His Father. These private moments further strengthened Him in His ministry of preaching and healing people.
Jesus’ example of finding time to be alone with God speaks to us. We must deliberately find a time away from the pressures and distractions of life to meet with Him. It is especially important when we have tough decisions to make or are hurting or grieving. It is essential to just thank Him and praise Him for all He does and has done for us.
We may think we are too busy to carve out time alone with God. We have the demands of family, business, or any number of things that need our attention. A famous quote states, “If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy.” If we have no time to spend in prayer, our priorities are misplaced, and God is obviously not the center of our lives. Prayer is not an option — it is paramount for our spiritual well-being.
There is no set time to get alone with God. It might be in the morning, before the day begins, or finding a quiet moment somewhere by yourself. Some find the evening the best time to pray. Jesus prayed early in the morning, during the day, and sometimes all night. He never failed to have those private moments with the Father.
It is important that we find a secluded place — a closet, a room, or even a car while traveling. When it is just you and God, you are free to be open and honest with Him. You can confess your sins or pray for specific problems; you can open your heart to Him with tears of sorrow or just to express gratitude. You don’t have to use fancy words, have much education, wealth, or even a position of importance. God simply invites you to have a genuine fellowship with Him. Remember the parable of the tax collector who went to the temple and humbly prayed, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). He was unlike the Pharisee who exalted himself above other men. His prayer was not accepted. Jesus issued other prerequisites for prayer. Do not pray to be seen, do not babble, and do not use flowery words as the Pharisees did. Instead, “Go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matt. 6:6).
God should not be used as a last resort in times of trouble. He is not at our disposable. We are entirely at His grace and mercy. Developing a deeper relationship with God does not happen with haphazard praying. Through ongoing communication of praise and thanksgiving to Him, we will reap joy, peace, comfort, and even help in times of trouble. If you desire this kind of intimate relationship, then make it your goal to be “alone with God,” allowing nothing to be more important than those special moments with Him.
