Alone with God

After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. Matthew 14:23

Once again, Jesus serves as our example. Even Jesus, the Son of God, truly God incarnate, knew the need to be alone with God. He sent the crowds away and went up to the mountain by Himself to pray. Because He was just like us, and faced the same things we face, He knew how much He needed to be alone with God, to pray, to realize His entire dependence on the Father.

How much more so do we need this! We are fully human and fully sinners, and we must make the time to be alone with God, to hear His voice, to study His word, and to come before Him with our petitions, in thanksgiving.

Andrew Murray writes, “Would God that every servant of His understood and practiced this blessed art, and that the Church knew how to train its children into some sense of this high and holy privilege, that every believer may and must have his time when he is indeed himself alone with God. Oh, the thought to have God all alone to myself, and to know that God has me all alone to Himself!”

It is certainly a high and holy privilege to be able to spend time reading and studying the Bible, God’s word to us, and to hear Him speak through His word. It’s also a great privilege to be able to go to Him in prayer.

I hope you will take advantage of this great privilege today. When the storms of life around you beat, you can find strength in spending time alone with your Lord and Savior.

“My soul, practice being alone with Christ! Practice that solitude! Practice the stillness of thy own heart!” –George Matheson

For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength." Isaiah 30:15

Alone with God
Words by Johnson Oatman, Jr.

When storms of life are round me beating,
When rough the path that I have trod,
Within my closet door retreating,
I love to be alone with God.

Refrain
Alone with God, the world forbidden,
Alone with God, O blest retreat!
Alone with God, and in Him hidden,
To hold with Him communion sweet.

What tho’ the clouds have gathered o’er me?
What tho’ I’ve passed beneath the rod?
God’s perfect will there lies before me,
When I am thus alone with God.

’Tis there I find new strength for duty,
As o’er the sands of time I plod;
I see the King in all His beauty,
While resting there alone with God.

And when I see the moment nearing
When I shall sleep beneath the sod,
When time with me is disappearing,
I want to be alone with God.