Even Jesus needed to get away by Himself sometimes.

“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed”.  (Mark 1:35)

The day before had been demanding.  Jesus had taught in the synagogue, cast an unclean spirit out of a man, and healed Simon’s mother in law.  And it wasn’t over yet.  After the sun went down, “all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed” were brought to Him.  The scripture even says, “And the whole city was gathered at the door”. 

That’s a lot of people.  That’s a lot of demands.  Sounds exhausting.

Maybe that’s why Jesus needed to get away by Himself the next morning.  I’m glad we have His example.  When those days full of demands and responsibilities and needs overwhelm us, Jesus shows us how to get our perspective back.

Get away.  Get alone with God.  Pray.

His time alone didn’t last long, though. Sound familiar?  His disciples searched until they found Him and instead of saying, “How was your time away?  We know you needed it”, they bombarded Him with “Everyone has been looking for you!”. 

But He had been alone with God long enough to have been refreshed and energized.  He responded, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth”. (Mark 1:38)

I love that the scripture tells us what His time away was all about. That short time alone had given Him focus.  He knew what He was called to do. Sometimes we get vacations or retreats.  Sometimes we just get a few minutes.  But we need to get away.  Block out the demands and distractions, get alone with God, and get our purpose and perspective and energy back.

I hope you can get away today.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.  Psalm 5:3

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,  Philippians 2:5

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.  Matthew 6:6

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.  Psalm 55:17