Isolation Can Be Good

There are times, that the only way to “hear” a clear answer – is to be alone, by yourself, away from distractions.

Mark 1:35 “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”

Do you have a fear of being alone? Are you addicted to “noise”? Do you need to have something going on all the time keeping you busy? Want to know a secret? This is enemy’s BIG way of getting us to NOT be still and quiet – so that we will NOT hear the voice of God! Yup, that’s right – the enemy knows he cannot get us to deny Christ, but he CAN keep us busy so that we don’t spend time with Jesus, we don’t learn to hear God’s voice, and for certain – we won’t feel the nudges from the Holy Spirit!

Did you know, that there are 375 times that pray or prayer is mentioned in the bible?! Guess what… there are 365 days in a year – and the bible mentions praying MORE that there are days in our year! To me, that means, that it should be a DAILY thing we do! Actually, it should be a frame of mind that we are in ALL day long.

What better and easier way to build our relationship and closeness to Jesus than in prayer. I mean, when you get to know someone and start a relationship with them – what do you do? You talk, you share, you listen. Well, the same is true in deepening our relationship with Jesus. Our way to “talk” with Him, is through prayer. Do you have to kneel down and bend your head down and close your eyes? No, not necessarily each time. Heck, I pray with eyes open and looking up towards heaven most of the time. It’s like, I’m looking up to see His face. I can “see” Him bending His ear to me, to move in closer and ‘listen’ to what I am sharing with Him. Praying is just as simple as talking. Sharing and reaming. Crying and laughing. In hard, crazy, bad moments as well as in fun, happy, joyous moments. We are not supposed to repeat over and over the same thing, like I did as a kid: “now I lay me down to sleep…” My Mom taught me to pray like that, which I did pretty regularly as a kid. But, it was just “words” – and they didn’t really mean anything to me. I mean – I didn’t even realize I was praying “if I should die before I wake…” and realize or understand what I was actually saying. Hmmm, maybe that is why I had a fear of dying when I was younger… (food for thought there lol)

This verse is very simple, to the point, and shows us an example of how we can be intentional and have quality time with our heavenly Father. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive – just us, and time away. I did NOT used to be a “morning person” (now I actually get up, but I am not fully awake for a few hours later lol) however, I have learned to “train” my body to get up earlier. I did it 15 minutes at a time. I set my alarm for 15 minutes earlier than I needed and actually GOT UP. The first increase in time, took me about 3-4 weeks to get used to it, but then each time after that, it only took a week most times. Now, I get up and have good quality time with Jesus in the mornings with my tea. Yes, sure, sometimes I get distracted, oversleep, or make a different choice – and guess what?!?! That is OK! I’m still in communication with Jesus, all day long, I just didn’t get to have my private one on one time with Him is all. There is always later in the day, or tomorrow even.

Yes, there have been times, just like with an old friend I haven’t seen for a while – where to “get caught up” I go on and on for a LONG time… however, now, that it is a habit to get up and spend time with Him, I don’t have the need to “catch up” like I have MANY times in the past. I’m already in contact with Him regularly, and therefore don’t need to spill everything, because He has been right in the middle of it with me anyway.

Today, if I can encourage you to do something that will truly feel strange, but end up being SO rewarding and fulfilling – I ask you to get up, go outside, and have some “alone time” with Jesus. Pull up a chair for Him if you have to. If you cannot go outside, then go to a secluded spot in your home (a closet is good for this lol) and just pretend you are going to have that secret conversation with Him that you don’t want anyone else to hear. Oh my goodness! I remember being able to take our house phone that was on a very long cord, all they into my bedroom and go under my bed to talk with one of my friends LOL That is exactly how we need to “get away” and spend time talking with Jesus. Try it. Set a timer if you have to and make it something you will succeed in. Just get away from distractions, and share your heart.

You CAN do this!! It will be well worth it I promise! If you are like me, it will go so well, that you will hardly be able to wait until you get to do it again! Be well my friend. Be safe in all you do. BIG blessings to you today – enjoy!