Alone

  Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone

— Matthew 14:22-23

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Your cousin John had been beheaded. News of his horrific death reached you and when it did, you "withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place" (vs. 13). But the crowds found you and as your boat landed, you immediately began ministering to them. When evening approached, the disciples came encouraging you to send them away to get food. In short, the miraculous feeding of 5000 came next. And then finally, after putting the disciples into a boat and sending them to the other side of the lake, you were able to get alone to pray, to finally grieve, and to be with the Father.

You must have been exhausted. Rarely do the needs of the flock take a backseat to our own grief and need for recovery. And apparently, God can work incredible miracles even when we are hurting and just want to be alone. But what you are teaching me today is that even though the needs don't stop and miracles are still breaking through, I must routinely get away with the Father and simply be alone. Constant needs are no excuse for not taking time for solitude and to recharge with God. The possibilities of miracles, compassion for the lost, and the hunger of the needy do not negate my need to get away by myself to pray. You prioritized that. You even sent your disciples away so you could be alone with the Father.

Gracious Lord, the days of my calendar are becoming more tightly strung together and the speed of events will soon only accelerate. I have a prayer overnighter scheduled on my calendar two weeks from today. I will go up on a mountainside by myself to pray. I will be alone with You. I will be refreshed, restored, and revitalized by being alone with You.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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