“But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬

Are you feeling pressured, everyone wants a piece of you, deadlines are approaching there is just not enough time in the day? Time to withdraw to a desolate place. Why somewhere that is desolate, barren, a wilderness, a solitary place? There is nothing to distract you.

Even as I read the Bible or pray there is so much to distract me, then there is the tendency to rush. Bible study should not be a speed dating exercise, how can we let the Word of God dwell in us richly if we just skim read the passage in front of us. I know that I should pray but if it is just an obligation I miss the pleasure of companionship with the creator.

I remember a friend, that was promoted to glory many years ago, created a desolate place when he wanted to pray, he literally had a prayer closet. In his flat he had a cupboard with nothing inside, when he wanted to pray, he would unplug the phone, switch off the intercom and enter the cupboard. This might seem extreme, but when you heard in pray, there was an intimacy that was evident that he had spent countless hours with his Saviour.

One of my favourite places, is doing a mundane job in the garden, here is where I find that my soul is refreshed and restored and I hear the Master’s voice.

Try to find your desolate place.