As busy as your life is, with the constant demands on your time and responsibilities, it’s easy to feel exhausted and overwhelmed. In the midst of the multitasking, do you ever wonder how you can develop the personal relationship with God that you’d like, or if it’s even possible?
The life of Jesus shows us how. Everywhere He went, there was always something or someone demanding His attention. He was healing someone, teaching and feeding the multitudes, instructing His disciples, and answering religious leaders who questioned everything He did. Yet in the midst of His unbelievably busy life, Jesus maintained a habit that is an example for us to follow. The Scripture says, “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (Mark 1:35). He often withdrew from the busyness of the day to quiet places where He could spend time with His Father in heaven. He was showing us just how important it is that we do the same.
Jesus had to purposefully disconnect from the demands on His time to be alone with His Father and be strengthened and encouraged. People were waiting to be healed, to be taught, to be loved. It wasn’t easy for Him to do, but it was essential. It’s not easy for us either. Our families and jobs keep us busy enough, but then there’s friends, social media, news, the sports and entertainment world. Just like Jesus had, there’s always something to pull you away. Always.
The only way you can develop an intimate relationship with God, a relationship where you hear His voice and let Him mold and make you into the person He wants you to be, is when you push away the distractions and simply spend time with Him. Perhaps you take a Scripture and just ponder over it and listen to what He is saying. Perhaps you sit quietly in His presence and say, “God, I love You today. Thank You for this day. Father, I want You to reveal more of Yourself to me.” Whatever that intimacy looks like for you, the only thing that will satisfy the needs of your soul and give vision for your life is to set yourself apart and be alone with God.
Make prayer a priority in your life. If you don’t carve out time from your schedule, it will get away from you. You need to spend your time wisely; you need to spend time with God. Do as Jesus says, “Go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). He’s waiting for you.