Corona Devo 3089

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.   ~Luke 6:12   


Is today a day for us to withdraw to a lonely (quiet/isolated/alone) place to pray?  

Jesus did.  Shouldn't we (as His followers) do that sometimes too?  

Is it time?

~~~

Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:16).  It may be a mountain, it may be a cabin, it may be a retreat, or it may be a quiet spot in our own home.  Perhaps circumstances require that "withdrawing" means only in our mind, because the situation does not allow for actual withdrawal to a lonely place.

...However and whatever we need to do to accomplish it today: withdraw and pray today.

~~~

Did we know that Jesus would step away to pray?

If (even He) did, then we should too.

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.  ~Luke 5:15-16   

Jesus had so much to do.  We may wonder and try to discern what work we should be doing for God's Kingdom.  What is God's work and plan for us...we ask and wonder.   But everything that Jesus Christ did was for the Kingdom of God...even the withdrawals to solitary places to pray.

Even with the importance of souls-at-stake and healings-to-help-people... Jesus (still) stepped away from all of that and went out to the mountain to pray.

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.   ~Luke 6:12   

Not just once in Scripture, but many (documented) times: Jesus went to a solitary place and prayed. 

Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.  ~Luke 5:16

Jesus...Who's every word and every deed made a difference in the lives of those He spoke to or touched: even He took time to be alone with God the Father.  We need to too.

Jesus knew that it was important to take time to be alone with God the Father.

Jesus knew that it was imperative that He step aside to be alone with God the Father.

Imperative means...critical to be followed.  To be executed.  Jesus knew that it was a must that He step away to better-trust in His Father.

We have to also, Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

Jesus calls us away with Him at times. Jesus draws us away with Him at times.

Jesus commands us to come away with him at times.

Are we in one of those times? 

Is there a weekend retreat knocking at our calendar and the door of our heart?

Is it time to say yes to the mission trip that we've been meaning to partake in?

Is it as simple as stepping-away and kneeling-alone in our prayer closet?

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. (6) But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  ~Matthew 6:5-6

Jesus beckons us to come away with Him today.  

Let's accept His offer.

Our Heavenly Father does know best.  There are truths to be learned.   Wisdom and discernment to be gained.  But this intimacy, peace, and blessing is only accessible by withdrawing to the lonely places to pray.  It is only in one-on-one with our Holy One.

When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”  ~Psalm 27:8

~~~

Our daughter is on a church retreat this weekend, and she couldn't wait to go out to the mountain and pray.  She counted down the days to when she could withdraw to lonely places and pray.  

This life can be fun and fast and engaging and exciting.  This life can also be draining and shallow and trying and wicked.  (Do you agree?)

Is today a day for us to withdraw to a lonely (quiet/isolated/alone) place to pray?  

Jesus did.  Shouldn't we (as His followers) do that sometimes too?  

How about today?

  • Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.   ~Luke 6:12   
  • 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.  ~Luke 5:15-16   


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