How often do you pray? What is the environment or setting in which you pray? Are most of your prayers in the midst of strife or in a rush? Are you more likely to be asking God for something you desire? Have you ever spent time in prayer in a secluded and quiet place?
Other than when praying publicly, such as in church, our praying is private. Sometimes our prayers are rushed or lifted up to God in the heat of the moment. There is nothing wrong with that. When we need his help, we should be both comfortable and willing to ask.
But Jesus often went to a secluded place to pray. Why? There are no distractions when we are away from people, away from a television, and away from our cell phones. It is when we are away from everything that distracts us that we can fully focus on God. We can converse with him about what is going on in our lives and honestly ask him what he wants us to do for him. When we set aside the time to go somewhere secluded and allow ourselves plenty of time, we can wait for God to answer us.
Sitting quietly in prayer with God away from all the distractions is relaxing, enlightening, and provides us mental relief. Oh, we may need to sit there for a while for that to happen, but it will. It takes a little time for our brains to stop thinking about all the things we need to do or stop worrying about tomorrow. Yet, when we take the time, it will. Jesus made time to get away from the mob who just wanted Him to perform a miracle. We need to make time to get away from all the demands being made of us.
I pray we all recognize our need to pray. I pray we make the time to get away from the distractions. I pray each one of us will experience relaxation, enlightenment, and mental relief through prayer. You need to pray. You need quiet. You need to escape distractions. Experience the goodness of prayer.
Luke 9:28-29 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
Marty Pressey 