When I was younger, time alone meant time being lonely. Then the boys came along. While we were raising the boys, I did not have much time alone.
As I have gotten older, I have found that I love to spend my alone time with the Lord, and as the boys have gotten older, it’s become easier to find the time.
Do you have a prayer closet or a place that you can go to spend time alone with the Lord? When is the last time you did that?
In the past, sometimes when I did not have time alone with God during the day, I would wake up at night and have a conversation with God then. I really enjoy the middle of the night conversations with the Lord. In some ways, I prefer them.
At night the phone isn’t going to ring. Deadlines aren’t looming, and folks aren’t coming and going. The television is off, and the meals are done. If I have slept for a while, I may even be somewhat rested.
Jesus went out by Himself and prayed.
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:12
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:41-44
Both of these times Jesus went out to a space alone and prayed. Evidently, He prayed for a good long while each time. In the first example, He prayed all night. In the second example, Jesus was there long enough for an angel to come from heaven and strengthen Him.
When I think about how much time Jesus spent in prayer, it makes me want to spend more time alone in prayer than I do. The times in my life when I spent the most time in prayer, I heard God clearly. I saw Him work in great ways.
The times in my life when I haven’t spend as much time in prayer, I haven’t always felt as close to God, and I’ve wondered if I heard as clearly as I could have. I wondered if I was fully walking in the center of His will for me. Worst of all, I really missed Him. Maybe that’s really the best of all because it pulls me back to the Lord as I seek to be close to Him again.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to consider how much time you set aside to spend talking and listening to the Lord. No matter how much time you currently spend alone in prayer, consider increasing that time. Prayer is obviously important. Remember, Jesus prayed all night.
There are some simple ways to increase your prayer time. If you have a long commute to work, or if you find you spend time waiting on your children when you go to pick them up from their activities, you may find that the perfect time. If you have people around you all day, consider staying up a little later or getting up a little early to give you that alone time. If your schedule is pushed, maybe you can use your lunch hour to get away and talk with the Lord.