Jesus as Praying: Taking time alone with God

Current status: "Ashley is taking a week off to be alone with her Father. She'll be unavailable for pretty much anything until next Saturday's sundown, but she'll see you at church!"

I'm writing this to let you guys know why I'm not going to 'be around' this week... So you don't think I'm just becoming a big, anti-social turd.

It's not a big secret to anyone that Ashley doesn't 'not do'... ever. She's always out with someone (usually several someones) doing something... and then another something, and then another something after that! ...The only places she's ever alone are her bedroom and her bathroom... because until she's married, those are sortof one-person places... ...and she usually doesn't even make it to bed until 4-5 in the morning!

Acouple weeks ago, a friend of mine sorta presented this to me, "If the day came when you couldn't see your friends or family anymore, would you be able to be happy?" Got me thinking... Would I be happy... or would I lose my mind? Is it enough for me to be alone with God, not surrounded by everyone else?

I spent some time thinking/talking/praying about it... and came to the conclusion (if you can call it an official conclusion, since it wasn't really all that conclusive, but sortof just a decision) that God gave me a passion for people... Jesus' ministry was people... I have my 'alone time' with God praying and praising Him... reading His word, writing Him songs, etc... What more did I need to do? It seemed like I had it all together fine. Why would I need to learn to be happy away from people... since I know it's God's plan to USE me in the way of people? So that idea sorta fizzled out, and I went on with my busy, always doing, never stopping life of excitement...

Wednesday night at Tribe (this awesome college Bible study/worship time... Ask me about it! You should come!), I was incredibly distracted by people... Just thoughts of people, completely distracting from my personal worship, learning, etc. I guess we could say that God used that to impress this back on me... I don't know how to be alone with God. I dont know for sure that I would be happy just being alone with God. He told me it's time to find out...

Yes, Jesus' ministry was people, but even He took time to just get away to be alone with His Father. Also, in the past when I've been in 'romantic relationships', I wanted to spend time alone with that person... No, not necessarily 'forsaking all others', but it was really nice to go out on dates alone sometimes or just spend time in eachother's company, involved in intimate conversation we just didn't get to talk about when everyone else was around... The little stuff, the big stuff... Just stuff* in their presense... That's how it is with God... He's IN LOVE WITH US! Of course He wants to be our #1! In my past relationships, I dare say that I could have ended up on a deserted island with only that person for the rest of my life and been MORE than content... been ecstatic even! Not that it would ever happen (or even that I'd want it to), but if it did, things would be awesome. ...And of course the idea of a week-long vacation with them was more than enticing... It should be that way with God! That's what this week's about... Learning to LOVE just being alone with Him... Yes, my vacation with God.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not thrilled about it... I want to go out with my friends... I want lunch out after church, movie nights, and days at the pool/lake... I want to have 'intellectual' conversations and and and and just BE with my friends and family... All this goes to say that this is something I NEED to do... because I should be thrilled about it. I should be THRILLED to get a week completely devoted to me and my God. I know He's going to teach me some awesome stuff this week, so I'm excited about THAT... just not the week in general. I know there are going to be alot of opportunities to not follow through on this... Even today already there were 2 (and the sun's only been down for an hour)! ...So needless to say, please keep me in your prayers!

...Ohh, and if you guys need any prayer or have some to pass along to me, I'll have plenty of time to pray for whatever it is (no matter how small), so let me know what I can pray for!

By: Ashley Marie
Category: Jesus as Praying: Taking time alone with God
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Jesus The Son Of God

It occurred to me as I was reading these verses (Mark 14:32-42 ) that if Jesus being the Son of God needed to pray to receive strength, then how much more so do we being earthly vessles, mere flesh need to call out to Him for strength, wisdom and Love.

By: Shannon Bludworth
Category: Jesus as Praying: Taking time alone with God

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did Jesus Pray for the unbelievers

By: Kathy Mann
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Spending time with HIM

When Jesus is in my life I sometimes realize it with a hard hand. It's funny but at the same time its scary: One moment I think I am doing good and I get really relaxed with the word and BAM! He hits me with the spirit of repentance. The waters of my faith and his love combine to make a monsoon of emotions that overwhelm me and scream at me to get right in the eyes of the Lord. I am dedicating more time to him whether its by having my time to speak to him during a jog around the neighborhood or the silent prayers I have while sitting in one of my classes. I know that his "hard hand" is the holy spirit and the love of my saviour is found in the Word of God, the Bible.

By: DJ Mobley
Category: Jesus as Praying: Taking time alone with God

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Listen to our heart

By: Doug
Category: Jesus as Praying: Taking time alone with God

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Jesus as Praying: Taking time alone with God

To my own point of view Jesus was leaving by example of which we need to emulate in the entire life of ours. Taking time alone with God means communicating with God. For example when Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden God used to visit them in a quiet time of the day that is to say God cherish quietness, He loves silence and i beleive that, that is when we can hear Him. Taking time alone with God is the best.

By: Adegbola Oluwole
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Jesus talked about doing only what `God the Father` asked him to. When Jesus prayed, was he clearly hearing from `God the Father`? And was he hearing instructions?

By: Chris Peacock
Category: Jesus as Praying: Taking time alone with God
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It makes sense

It makes sense that Jesus retreated to quite places and prayed because he is God. And it seems logical that Jesus would be alone in private to recharge his batteries through connecting with God the father.

By: Chris Peacock
Category: Jesus as Praying: Taking time alone with God

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What are the different ways Jesus prayed? i.e. on the ground, standing up?

By: Chris Peacock
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And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there. ( Mark 1:35)

And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the multitude away. And after bidding them farewell, he departed to the mountain to pray. ( Mark 6:45-46)

And they came to a place called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground, and began praying. ( Mark 14:32-34)

And when day came, He departed to a lonely place; and the multitudes were searching for Him, and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from going away from them. ( Luke 4:42)

But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. ( Luke 5:16)

And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ( Luke 6:12)

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