Time Alone With God Strengthens Us
"After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone," -- Matthew 14:23
Solitude is such a wonderful experience. I love spending time alone with God. I don't need to be doing anything. I can just sit patiently before Him. Oh, I read my Bible and pray. But I also just like to listen for His voice. It brings me great peace to know He's there with me.
Jesus sought out time alone with His Father as well. Jesus gave so much to us all, but He found strength through time spent with God. We see it several times in the Bible. He even told His disciples to get away from the crowds to refresh themselves. See, we can't be all we need to be to those around us until we take care of who we need to be in Christ.
Some days life reminds me just how weak I am without Him. People crowd around, each taking small pieces. I want to give. I love to give. But I know I only have so much to give and them the well goes empty. Only God can refill it. And only when I spend time with Him. That's just how it is.
There is such a difference between solitude and being lonely and alone. I had a friend once who needed to occupy every moment with activity. He couldn't stand the quietness. He was running from himself. We all saw it but he refused to face it. He raced toward inevitable disaster because he wasn't willing to see his life as it was -- and as it could be.
That's the thing about being alone with God. Sometimes it gets uncomfortable. He doesn't hold back, especially when it involves his children -- that would be you and me -- and what He knows is best for them. It isn't always easy to hear what He has to say. I've learned that when I'm avoiding time alone with God it means that I'm resisting His will. It brings me back again. I know He is right. I know He loves me. I know He is my safe haven and my biggest supporter.
I crave time alone with my Father just as any child wants special time with a parent. We're blessed that way. We can have His undivided attention any time we want. All we have to do is look up and say His name. There He is. Waiting patiently to spend time alone with us.
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