ALONE WITH CHRIST

“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” – Luke 5:16

Until we have an understanding of the great value and availability of encountering God, we will never consistently engage in this very spiritual practice. Joyce Meyer writes, “One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is time alone with God.” The Scripture above makes it abundantly clear that Jesus spent time alone with His heavenly Father: “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Mark 1:35 also states, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.” Jesus makes it a practice to withdraw from the crowd to pray.

So the first reason to spend time alone with God is because Jesus did. Jesus walked in God's presence constantly, doing His will all the time and yet He needed time alone with God. If He needed time alone with His Father, who are we not to; we actually need it even more. 

We also see from Jesus' example that time alone with God empowers us to carry out God’s purpose for our life. It was after withdrawing into the wilderness in Luke 4, that He began performing miracles. Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane filled with grief and sorrow, asking God for a way other than His own death to achieve salvation for His people. After spending time alone with God, He came out of the garden empowered to endure the worst act of brutality in history. Spending time alone with God empowers us to live a life filled with a knowledge of God’s purposes and the ability to faithfully see them through.

Lastly, in Matthew 6:5-6, Jesus teaches us how we are to pray. Scripture says, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” 

God rewards time spent alone with Him in prayer. It’s by praying in secret that we clearly and tangibly encounter God’s love for us. It’s by spending time engaging in conversation with the Holy Spirit that we learn what His voice sounds like. It’s by asking God questions that we discover His will. And it’s by spending time alone with Him that our lives become centred around His nearness and goodness.

“The time you spend alone with God will transform your character and increase your devotion. Then your integrity and godly behaviour in an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord.” – Charles Stanley

No amount of money in the world can buy the rewards God longs to give you. All the favour of men will not satisfy your unquenchable desire to be fully known and fully loved. Receive right now the best gift you could be offered, a ‘one-on-one’ communion with your Heavenly Father. His friendship never fails, nor His counsel, ditto His love. In His strength, we can conquer every mountain no matter its height. It is better to be alone with God.

I pray that God will give you a revelation of His provision and love for you as get alone with Him. Remind yourself constantly that God’s desire to spend time alone with you is not meant to add stress or pressure to your life but to relieve you from it. He longs to fill your life with His grace, power, and love.

ACTION:

Wherever you are, find a place to get alone and pray. Seek out a place that you can find solitude that will be uninterrupted.

Read: Luke 5:16; Mark 1:35

Stay blessed,

Pastor Ranti Orioke