“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. Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for You!” (Mark 1: 35-37)

Jesus was extremely busy with His earthly ministry. Read Mark chapter one if you need confirmation of Jesus’ exhausting schedule. Yet, He woke incredibly early ... a long while before daylight and went to a solitary place to pray. When His disciples expected Him to go back to minister to the people who were searching for Him, He responded that He needed to move on and preach in other towns to fulfill the purpose for which He had come. Jesus did not get caught up in the need to please others. He was on earth to be about His Father’s business. The only way He knew His Father’s will, was to spend time communing with Him.

The God who created the universe invites us to commune with Him. He waits for us to come aside to a solitary place and be still before Him. He wants us to share our hurts, fears, and desires with Him. He longs to have an intimate relationship with us.

In her article: “What is the definition of Intimacy, what does it mean to be intimate,” Shana Schutte shares:

One evening over dinner with a friend, we spoke about intimacy and what it means. She shared a cute little phrase with me to remind me of intimacy's true meaning. "It means ‘in-to-me-see,'" she said. Ah yes, it's a blending of our hearts with another's, so we can "see into" who they really are, and they can "see into" us.

We mustn’t get so caught up on the treadmill of life that we do not breathe deeply and be still before the Lord our God, our Maker. For He is our God, and He patiently waits to meet us even amid the chaos. Prayer helps us discover God’s priorities for us. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1). This shows us that prayer is a learning experience.

Often, we rush ahead making plans and then forge ahead asking God to bless our plans. As God in His grace and wisdom patiently matures us, He reveals that His ways are much better than ours. He wants us to spend time with Him, seeking His direction, for we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do the good works which He prepared in advance for us (Ephesians 2:10).

It is good to follow our Saviour’s example and take time to pray!