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Byline // Allan Swinson
Can I confess something to you? I’m an introverted extrovert. What do I mean by that? I’m an extrovert, by nature. I love people! But I also have an introverted side to me that wants – no, NEEDS to get away by myself at times and recharge my batteries.
No matter how you are wired – whether you’re an introvert, an extrovert, or a mixture of the two like me – I believe God has designed us to need time alone. Why? Because we are never truly alone. God is always with us. And God, our heavenly Father, is longing for us to get alone by ourselves so we can spend some time alone with Him. A bedrock of a life of prayer is a life marked by intentional, protected time alone.
I know, easier said than done, right? Depending on your age and stage of life, alone time can be incredibly hard to come by. Whether it’s kids, friends, a pesky-but-well-meaning neighbor, the phone, or even your spouse, in our always-connected world it has become increasingly harder to find even 30 minutes that you can protect for just you. But we must find the time. Jesus modeled this for us beautifully. In Mark 1:35 we read, “Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Ironically, in the very next verse, the people come looking for Him! Not much has changed in 2000 years; the pressures of life then were similar to the pressures of life now. But Jesus knew this, and that’s why He got up early, before the day came crashing in around Him, and made time to pray.
Takeaway
Your prayer time doesn’t have to be early in the morning. But it does need to be intentional. It does need to be protected. And it needs to be a regular part of your life. Luke 5:16 says that Jesus would often withdraw to desolate places to pray. He valued and safeguarded time alone with His Father. As His disciples, we should do the same.
10 Responses
Thank you pastor Allan
Since I work at 5:30am I have been waking up 2 hours early to make time to get ready and to read my bible. I have found that dedicating that short period of time as helped me start my days off with love and hope. I find myself looking forward to that alone time every morning to spend that with God and see what lessons I will learn.
Amen! I praise Him and am grateful for the life I have. May He always reign in my life because His plans for me are better than my own. Thank you for what you have given and taken away. The illnesses I battle I know will be for the Kingdom. Help me to forgive myself as you would have me forgive others. To you Lord, I give all glory and honor. Please be with my husband as he travels to and from Idaho. Please be with my sons as they go about their day and may they seek you first when praise or trouble arise. Please be with me as I get my test results tomorrow. Cancer or not, you are with me. I will continue to fight the good fight. Your strength is within me. I love you Lord. Amen.
Thank you for this amazing opportunity to pray for others. Thank you for sharing who you are Allan. I’m the same way, loving people while also loving my alone time.
I’ve been Praying for Israel, and all the casualties of war.
Pray that the Lord breaks my heart for what breaks His.
Prayer for the elderly, the children, the youth that were slaughtered.
I’m praying for my family, my Pastor Brian, and all the serving Pastors, and change makers. The sisters in my life group,and the sisters in my Tuesday morning Bible study.
Continued prayer for Israel. My heart is so heavy.
Thank you God, for this pray blog. Thank you Lord for being Holy, for being good, for your everlasting love, for your mercies every morning, for the Holy Spirit living in me, and thank you for your patient, waiting on us all to repent and not perish. Your love is everlasting. Thank God, almighty .Amen
I have a partial knee replacement tomorrow and would love prayer.
Sending prayer up for your knee replacement. Prayer for surgeon, the medical team, for no complications, and a speedy recovery, and Shalom. in the Mighty and Matchless Name of JESUS Amen
I thank you all for taking time to share your life experiences and share your pray practices with others. I’m trying very hard to develop a method for pray time with the Lord.