I Thessalonians 5:18 says we are to pray at all times. That
means while we drive, during church, at a ballgame, in the school cafeteria,
among family or friends—whenever and wherever we are, we can, and should, be
praying.
But sometimes, with all the hustle and bustle and crowds and
shouts and conversations, it can be hard to feel connected with the Lord. People
and duties and circumstances constantly vie for our attention.
Despite His intimate relationship with Father God, Jesus
felt the need to get away from it all—all the people, all the distractions, all
the clamoring. Luke 5:16 says, “Jesus would go away to lonely places where He
prayed.”
Jesus knew that we need that lonely time, too. Jesus told
His followers, “When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you,
and pray to your Father in private.” (Matthew 6:6)
Are we intentionally spending time in “a lonely place” so we
can connect with our Heavenly Father? Or are we limping along, sustained only
by fleeting prayers flung heavenward while we ferry the kids here and there,
vacuum the house, consult with co-workers, and murmur along with others in church,
reading unison prayers pre-written by someone else?
While all of those opportunities for prayer are good and
necessary, it seems obvious that if Jesus Himself needed alone-time with God,
we most certainly do, too. Billy Graham said, "[Jesus] prayed briefly when
He was in a crowd; He prayed a little longer when He was with His disciples;
and He prayed all night when He was alone. When we are alone with God, we are
able to be more vulnerable with Him. We can give him our concerns without fear
of others judging us.”
What will our alone-time with our Heavenly Father look like?
Where is your or my “lonely place”?
For my friend Debi, it is in her bathroom with the door
locked and the fan running. For John Wesley it was 4:00 AM. One friend’s lonely
place of prayer is walking in a farm field; another looks forward to those
moments after everyone else has gone to bed.
Where is your lonely place—the sanctuary where you and Father
God can talk? Haven’t found it yet? I encourage you to make the time, find the
place, and open yourself to God in complete honesty. Those precious moments are
life-changing!
Be encouraged!
Pam
writepam71@gmail.com
