Day 25: Alone With the Father

Opening Scripture

Luke 5:16 (NIV)

16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Devotional Reflection

Jesus came down from heaven, laying aside divine privilege, to live fully as a human—no different from you and me. Though He was God, He never used His power for personal gain. Instead, as a man, He leaned continually upon the Father and the Holy Spirit. He remained connected to the Father through prayer. Scripture teaches us to pray without ceasing.

To pray without ceasing, prayer must be removed from a single moment of spoken words. It becomes a continual conversation with God—greeting Him in the morning, speaking to Him throughout the day, and resting in Him at night. It is talking and listening as we would with a close friend. This is the ideal.

Yet there are times when we must intentionally separate ourselves from distraction in order to pray. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to be alone with the Father.

This was not an occasional practice for our Lord—it was a regular one. Stepping away from His disciples, followers, inquisitors, and even enemies was sometimes necessary to initiate and sustain communion with the Father. If Christ needed this rhythm, we need it all the more.

We live in a world far more distracted than the one Jesus walked in. If He—though the Son of God—often needed to withdraw to pray, how much more must we cultivate the discipline of stepping away from distraction to fix our hearts, minds, and eyes on the Lord of all?

This required effort from Jesus. As a rabbi, the custom was for His disciples to go wherever He went. Jewish tradition taught that disciples were to “sit in the dust of their rabbi”—to be so close that they were covered by the dust stirred up by his steps. Scripture shows they ate together, walked together, prayed together, talked together, and slept nearby. For Jesus to leave and be alone was not easy.

Crowds followed Him everywhere—some seeking the supernatural, others longing for personal healing. They were relentless, even running around a body of water when they saw Jesus crossing by boat to the other side.

Whether it is an overflowing inbox or a small child following us wherever we go, we must make it a practice to withdraw and pray. Turning off our phones, arranging childcare, waking early before others stir—these all require effort. Rather than being swept away by everything demanding our attention, both good and bad, we must intentionally do whatever it takes to be alone with God each day.

The Examen

1. What distractions most often keep me from being fully present with God, and how do I usually respond to them?

2. Where might God be inviting me to withdraw—however briefly—so that I can listen, pray, and rest in His presence?

Lectio Divina Scripture

Mark 1:35 (NIV)

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Read the passage slowly out loud several times. With each reading, emphasize a different word or phrase. Notice what stands out and why.

Prayer Prompt

Lord, teach me to withdraw from distraction and draw near to You. Help me to cultivate quiet spaces where my heart can listen, my mind can rest, and my life can be shaped by Your presence. Amen.