Listen:
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
Reflect:
Very early this morning, while it was still dark, I too got up, slipped from my warm bed, grabbed a cup of hot coffee, and headed down to my office to pray. I prayed before I wrote this, and I prayed for you who would read this.
I began practicing this discipline when I was in my 20’s; a young mom with babies and toddlers; desiring some alone moments with Jesus amid a wonderfully busy, frenzied life of raising up tiny humans who collectively called out for “mommy” too many times to count in one day. I needed – no, craved – my time with Him to fill me as only He can, for what He called me to accomplish with my life each day. So, following Jesus’ example, I began setting my alarm to meet with the Father in the quiet solitude of the dark, early morning. Before little feet and voices found me.
Just a couple verses later in Mark chapter one, it says that Jesus’ disciples found him in his quiet place, much like our children or life’s pressing circumstances tend to find us in our quiet places of prayer. Jesus left his quiet place with his disciples to go to nearby villages to find people, to “do what I have come to do.”
Jesus’ time of quiet solitude with His Father was intentional; the first fruits of his time, so he could head into his day connected to the author of that day, and director of His steps. Like me, I’m certain that throughout His day He too heard his name called far too many times to count. I want the peace and patience with people that Jesus had/has with people, and I am certain that it is directly connected to the way He spent the first moments of His each day.
As the seasons of my life have changed, decades have now passed. My husband and I have moved several times, our six kids are nearly all grown, and my title has changed from Mommy to Grammy. Yet all these years later, my morning routine looks the same. Following Jesus’ example, that time of quiet solitude has been both my anchor and my launch pad now for most of my adult life. It’s the place where I get my heart and mind aligned with the Lord for my day of tasks and people interactions that I am called to serve in Jesus’ name.
Tomorrow I’ll be back here in this chair again; coffee cup sitting on the table, head bowed, bible open, pen and highlighter at the ready; quietly anticipating meeting Him. My seat of quiet solitude with my Father; my Constant in a life of change. And I pray you are making this time too.
Prayer of Response:
Jesus, thank you for setting the example of incorporating peace, solitude, and time for the Father. You practically show us how to serve from a full cup – a spirit connected to the Father through daily meeting with Him. Father, help me to continue to intentionally arrange my life so I can meet with You in quiet and solitude; time to read Your word, hear Your voice, and calm my spirit so I can leave our time together each day ready to do the work You have call me to, anchored and filled with Your Spirit of peace.
Questions to Ponder:
- Have you made a quiet space in your schedule to daily get alone with the Father? If feelings of stress, anxiety, overwhelm, and a fragmented focus feel like your norm, perhaps setting your alarm a bit earlier to create some time for unhurried solitude with the Father is just what your spirit is craving.
- Does your prayer space draw you like a “Date Morning” with your Lord? Perhaps creating a calming and soothing place (Jesus met with the Father in a garden) that brings peace to several of your senses and draws you with anticipation to your time together?
Ideas:- sitting outside if weather permits
- finding a comfortable chair with a lap blanket (or a beloved pet)
- a pretty notebook and favorite pen
- coffee in a favorite mug
- a scented candle
- soft music that calms you (or just absolute quiet)
- a little space heater or cooling fan if your body temperature is all over the map (maybe that’s just me!)
- keep your phone silenced & turned over, across the room so you aren’t tempted to check apps; possibly with the timer set so you don’t have to worry about losing track of time.
Once you’ve set the space and place, set the time.
When will you next meet with him in quiet and solitude?
Enjoy Him as you breathe in His presence and peace and exhale stress and worry. Allow Him to fill you so you can serve in your purpose from a place of overflow and not from a place of depletion.
—Submitted by Traci Morrow
Traci lives in Colorado with her husband KC & two teenage sons. They also have four adult kids, one grandson, & a granddaughter on the way! She is a Health and Wellness Coach and is the Relationship Expert and Growth Guide for Maxwell Leadership. Traci is passionate about healthy relationships and has written her first book, Real-Life Marriage; Navigating Your Beautiful, Messy, One-Of-A-Kind Love Story.
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