September 6 Alone With God

Luke 5:15-16 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
 
DO you like to be alone with God? Surely Jesus did as Luke records, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Even though Jesus could have filled his time with adoring crowds around him, he deliberately moved away from people to spend considerable time one-on-one, alone with the Father.
    It is difficult for us to be lonely with God, isn’t it? If you’re as I am, we find many reasons to avoid that alone time. To you find it easier to engage in your daily tasks and respond to others’ demands on your time? Perhaps these requests and opportunities to help others makes us feel more needed or essential to others’ lives. Maybe we find purpose in filling our schedule. Often before I go into my morning alone time with God, I will ask myself, “Is there something else I need to do, first?” That question often leads me to ask a second question: “Why am I like avoiding this alone time with God?”
    Perhaps it is feeling unworthy to sit with our holy, loving God because I am too often unholy and unloving. Maybe I am not quite sure what I will say, and I am even tired of praying the same words without seeing results I desire. It could also be that my heart is afraid of being alone, away from others. After all, God has given to us all a great longing for true fellowship with other people.
    But he also has given us a need to be with him. Made in his image, we are to reflect the God who is love with a foremost love for our Lord. One way, then, to cultivate that love is to sit down alone with him. As Jesus prayed in those lonely places, so must we. Alone time with God helps us move past our inadequacies, doubt and discouragements as we draw surely closer to the One who says, “Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Alone time is the only time to truly hear the Father’s great love for us.
    Go eagerly as Jesus did to be alone with God. Tell him of your needs with an open, honest heart. Share your joy and your love for others with a grateful soul. Praise him for his Savior and Spirit to open your way to be born again. Submit your heart to gratefully receive his endless love and friendship.
    As fully man, Jesus, the Son, spent alone time with the Father to be filled with the Father’s love, wisdom and power. Our lives have the same need.  We must know the assurance of that same love, wisdom and power. Alone time with God enables you to enter your busy life with in Jesus’ rest, assured the loving God is with you.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for inviting me to me alone with you. This is a most precious time of my day. I rejoice that you call me into such a personal relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, amen.