Month: August 2019

In a world that stands in such need of prayer, we often find ourselves engulfed in the overwhelming noise of busyness that we fail to step aside to pray. Throughout His life, we see time and again where Jesus stepped aside to pray.

“And in the morning, riding up a great while before day. He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed“”.” Mark 1:35

“And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” Luke 5:16

“And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone.” Matthew 14:23

“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“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed.” Luke 22:41

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit here, while I go and pray yonder.” Matthew 26:36

Following in His example we can see the importance He placed on stepping aside to pray. He knew that in order to be able to focus on His conversation with God, He needed to separate Himself from the noise of the world.

He rose early to seek God and He closed His day in earnest prayer with His Father pouring out His burdens before Him. He made His time with God a priority, removing Himself from all that would distract Him.

If Jesus in His perfection saw the importance of stepping aside to pray, how would we in our imperfection consider anything less as acceptable before God? How do we expect Him to hear us, when we attempt to multitask during our prayer time with Him?

Yes, there is value in talking to God as we go about the different tasks associated with our day; but somewhere in our day there needs to be time where we step aside and seek God’s face in prayer. God deserves time with us during which our heart is solely fixed on Him. When we come before Him in this manner, following the example of Jesus, then and only then can we experience the true fellowship of time spent with our Heavenly Father.

With all of the ever present noise that fills our lives it becomes increasingly difficult to find “quiet time“. Each morning’s alarm finds us with a to-do list that screams immediate attention and the chores from yesterday that did not find their way to completion thunder with an ever present reminder that time is never sufficient. Our lives are filled with noise that bombards our mind with its incessant demand to be appeased. It becomes increasingly difficult to step aside and find even the briefest of moments of quiet solitude in which to listen to the still small voice of God. All the while He is there waiting just beyond the horizon of the chaos, waiting for us to seek time with Him. It becomes a necessity for us to “demand quietness” in which to listen to Him in the stillness.

“Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the Earth.” Psalm 46:10

“The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.” Isaiah 14:7