A Solitary Place

To Jesus, it was critical to find time to be alone with the Father. He made this a priority.

He often prayed in the morning. In fact, the Greek words here suggest that He prayed a long time before daylight. We can picture the moment: Jesus was alone, in the dark, while others were asleep. Before others would demand His time, He was praying, talking with the Father.

Where did He go? To a lonely, desolate place. Why? Because He wanted to be away from people, noise, and all the activities of normal life. He looked for a place where He truly could be alone to pray.

How easily we can allow prayer to become a secondary priority. We can pray just when it’s convenient for us or when it fits into our schedule. We can pray only in places where we conduct our daily activities, even when such places are filled with distractions.

But if we truly want to hear from God and draw closer to Him, we should follow the example provided by Jesus. We need to find a time when we will not be interrupted, when there is an opportunity to hear from God and spend quality time in fellowship with Him. And we need to find a place to pray where we can be free from the congestion and noise of the world.

Today, remember that God longs to spend time with you. He is ready to speak to you, teach you His Word, give you understanding and wisdom, fill you with His power, and bless you with greater resources. He wants to help solve your problems and relieve your burdens.

Make it a priority to seek God in places and at times when your mind and heart are free from distractions. Concentrate on Him, and let Him speak to you. Find a “solitary place”!