And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Luke 5:16 KJV
Are you contemplating on a place to pray? Have you or are you still searching for a place to talk to God?
I used to struggle with the thought of finding the perfect place with less or no disturbances. I thought that if I was somewhere too loud he wouldn’t hear me to speak or if I am too quiet he’d want me to speak up. But as I grew up in my late teens my pastor told me before I left for basic training around the summer of June 2007.
He will always hear a humble heart and his child no matter what or where you are. Take heed to Luke 5:16 and study it. You will begin to understand why. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray my dear!
From that day forward I started to put my best foot forward in studying his word. No I didn’t understand, so I had to do a little bit more researching and asking others of their opinions that they had grasped from the word. I wanted to know what it meant to them. I wanted understanding on what my pastor was trying to tell me.
But at the end of the day, I came to realize after calling my mom from basic training just to tell her, “I got it”. I had finally understood what he was trying to tell me, but I had to go off on my own to actually understand why. When she asked me “what is it”.
I told her the verse of Luke 5:16, and that all Pastor was trying to tell me was:
“If Jesus often withdrew himself to quiet places to pray, then God is all around us. He can hear our pleas and our praises wherever we happen to be. But even though he hears US any and everywhere he stills wants his time with us to himself. Never stop seeking a solitary place for solitude because he still loves his intimacy with his children.
She was a shocked and told me that she would let the pastor know at the next service. It only took me about 4weeks in between basic training to get it. Lol. Since then I have loved my time alone with him to hear, to speak, to grow in him, and flourish my relationship with him.
I am an emotional worshipper, that withholds nothing from him. I let down my flaws, dislikes, and imperfections at his feet for him to correct on a daily without any regret to be a better me. But I wasn’t always that way, I had to learn, with a heart and mind “willing” to learn and grow.
Since my knowledge and growth of that understanding, I’ve been going off on my own away from my kids, my former spouse, friends, or even family members just to have that quiet time with him. To be heard and to also hear!
You may even see me talking to myself, but I’m really just praying. I have no shame of where I am at or go to get that moment with him. I prefer silence to hear him rather than noise, distraction, or over anyone else. My quiet moments with God helps me regain my sense of peace while seeking his peace. And we all know his is better than ours.
To hear his words of guidance and signs shine through my darkness, he will receive my undivided attention!
Nothing or no one will ever change that!
Where is your most intimate place to pray with God?
Prayer:
Lord, help me to always place our time alone above all else to seek you in quietness and not in the midst of chaotic storms. You deserve my full attention for all that you do, have done, and yet to do or doing in my life. Thank you! In Jesus name, you have my undivided attention, AMEN!
