“One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is time alone with God.”
Joyce Meyer
Mark 1:35 shows us that Jesus made it a priority to have time alone with His Father. “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.” Jesus woke up early, possibly before others were up, and went to a location where there were no other people. This was how He spent time alone with His Daddy. Scripture says He prayed. I believe Jesus not only talked and shared His thoughts and heart with His Father, but Jesus also became quiet and listened to His Father’s voice.
It seems that Jesus’ time alone with God gave Him direction for the day. He received His assignment from the moments He spent with His Father. “Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. That is why I have come’” (Mark 1:38). Jesus obeyed what the Father asked Him to do.
If Jesus made time alone with His Father a priority, how much more shall we! I struggled for thirteen years to have a daily quiet time. Then the Lord suggested having a cup of coffee with my time with Him and ever since then it’s been easier to be consistent. Like Jesus did, we too need to have 2-way conversations with our heavenly Father. Our time alone with God is where we share what’s on our heart with the Lord and sit still to listen to His voice.
Having time alone with God knits our hearts to His. Our dialogue with God synchronizes our life with God’s. Time alone with God instills oneness, becoming of one heart and mind with our Father. Listening to God’s voice to hear His daily assignments for us to obey is one reason we need to make time alone with God a priority.
I have found that time alone with my heavenly Daddy reaps many benefits. At the top of that list is getting to know who God is, which helps me to get to know myself better, solidifying my identity as His child. Gaining security, peace, and assurance are also harvested from my times alone with God. And just like Jesus experienced, I receive direction and guidance for my daily assignments.
“It is better to be alone with God. His friendship will not fail me, nor His counsel, nor His love.”
Joan of Arc
Relevant Reflections:
1. How have you benefited from having time alone with God?
2. If you wrestle with having daily quiet times, prayerfully ask God to help you in this area.
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