SOLITUDE IS GOING TO A SOLITARY PLACE

This is Day 8 of this Daily Lenten Devotional Series which continues through Good Friday. If you are not receivng these daily and would like to receive them, you can sign up here:  https://tinyurl.com/TOLLentendevo

This week, I am exploring what God says about SOLITUDE. As I enter prayer now, I reflect on God’s instruction: “Be still and know that I am God.” 

Lord, teach me today about getting alone to listen to You. 

I desire to receive Your instruction  

and share it with others in my life. 

Let me consider the words of God from Luke 4:40-44: 

At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”  And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. 

There are many reasons Jesus needed to get away. 

He needed rest.  Healing people from sickness and demon-possession takes a lot of energy.  While Jesus was 100% God, He was also 100% human and felt the effects of the stress on the human body. 

He needed to commune with His Father.  Jesus looked forward to taking time in communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  As the Second Person of the Trinity, He was refreshed through this Divine interaction. 

He needed to pray for the next mission.  Jesus was preparing to travel to the next town.  What would He preach?  How would they respond?  All of this He lifted to the Father in prayer. 

Lord, thank You for showing me that Jesus  

needed to get away to be refreshed.   

That gives me hope when I also get tired. 

When will I take time to get away to a solitary place?  If I plan ahead, I can mark the date and time on my calendar to give me hope and blessing to look forward to! 

Lord, I also need to be refreshed in You.   

Allow me time to get away from my regular routine  

and help me return refreshed.   

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.