by Linda Veath
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. ~ Mark 1:35 NIV
Mark 1:35 gives us an important picture of Jesus. Very early in the morning while still dark, Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a solitary (quiet) place. And PRAYED. Our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, the Son of God prays. He spends time with His Father. What a good example for us. Jesus needed (wanted) to spend time with the Lord. And if He feels that way, shouldn’t we?
There’s peace in that thought. Getting away from the world allows us time to listen to God, to seek His guidance, to rest in His arms.
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night there. ~ Luke 6:12 NIV
In this fast-paced world, finding a quiet place isn’t that easy. Yet we all need one. It can be a room in our house, a favorite chair. It can be a cabin in the woods overlooking a lake. A walk on our favorite path. A porch swing.
Any of these can be a peaceful place — a quiet place. We can rest in them literally. Or we can close our eyes and envision that quiet place in our minds. Either way, we bring ourselves into a moment of time where we can rest, finding strength to go on. It helps us know that God is with us. That He will not let us go. That He Who brought His Son into the world to save us from our sins, will protect us even now.
Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. ~ Luke 5:16 NIV
Finding a quiet place takes time but the joy of spending time with our Father guides us in our quest. And whether we are physically in our quiet place or simply seeing it in our minds, God will be with us, and joy will fill our hearts and live there forever.
[Jesus said] “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” ~ Mark 6:31 NIV