The Quiet, Busy, Life of Prayer

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

In Mark’s gospel we see Christ going over and over again to solitary places to pray. Jesus spent time alone in the desert when He was tempted before He began His ministry. He later spends time alone praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His sacrifice on the cross. Here in Mark 1, Jesus spends time alone in prayer after a busy day and as He prepares to move to a new area to serve others. The previous day, Jesus had taught in the synagogue at Capernaum, healed a demon-possessed man who interrupted Him, healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever, and then tended the needs of many. Instead of sleeping in, He recharges by spending quiet time with God the Father.

His example is important for us as believers. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to do what God has called us to do, whatever our calling is, whether it seems big or small. We are important to God. We should take the time alone to recharge, talk to God and read Scripture. Spending time with God keeps our focus on Him and off ourselves.

What comes to your mind when you think about prayer? Perhaps praying before meals or at bedtime, maybe an intimate way of talking with God, something you do when you have a need or want, or something that those who are devout Christ followers do every day first thing in the morning, much like Jesus does in this passage.

Okay, let’s get this straight right away. You don’t need to pray in any specific place, time or manner in order for God to hear you when you pray or for you to be a “good” Christian. God is always listening and always available. Some are working from home and taking care of children simultaneously, yet others are caregivers for loved ones from the time they wake until they go to sleep, others are shift workers or front line workers who are either sleeping or working with little time in between…these and a myriad of other scenarios come into play in our lives. Where can we find both the time and the desire to pray and spend time alone with God amidst the busyness of everyday life?

I think that the answer comes in learning to view our time with God differently.

If someone were to ask you how you’re doing how would you answer them? The typical responses I hear are “good” or “tired” or “busy”. I wonder if we start to look at our days differently if we would start to view them as a part of God’s ongoing plan, and His constant presence in the midst of that plan?

It is important to have a time of solitude with God and His Word daily. It sets our heart towards Him and allows us to see into His heart for us and all of his creation as well. With that in mind, we also need to look around ourselves in our everyday because God is there too, wherever we are and whatever we are doing. Are you buying groceries? Pray for the farmers, the factory workers, the truck drivers and the grocery workers and thank the Lord of the harvest for them and for our daily food. Do you drive or walk past a park? Pray for children and their parents and caregivers. Pray for educators, after-school workers, youth workers and volunteers and the gift of learning. As you admire a flower, thank God for His creation and the role we get to play in taking care of it. Every day, in any place we go, even in passing through, God is there. He is there in the routine everyday, He is there in the scattered, frenzied hours. He is there in our joy, sadness, grief and even in our doubt, and disbelief. He is there even when no one else is.

So today, find a time of solitude to learn from God and His Word, even if to start, that time is small. Every good thing needs a place to start. And take the time to see God as you go about your day. As you spend time with Him daily, over time you may just start to find yourself wanting more of God because as we draw near to him, He draws near to us. He says to us in His Word that when we seek Him, we will find Him, and He will never leave nor forsake us. That means that He will always be with us. In our times of solitude with God, and every day, in every place God is there.