Get OUT of bed and get ALONE!!

I've been struggling with getting up recently... and I decided to ask God to start waking me up. He has. But I haven't. Feel free to read: When You Pray (Part 1) and When You Pray (Part 2). The following was written yesterday...

 

Mark 1.35: "In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there" (New American Standard).

In the early morning... Jesus got up. I tend to hit the snooze button - over and over and over again. (Even this morning, I decided to stay in bed for "five more minutes" to the tune of two more hours.) I need to follow Jesus' example: Jesus got up. Waking up isn't the issue (even what time you get up isn't the issue) - the action is simply getting up.

Jesus... left the house. He left the house because there were so many people in it. He would not have been able to get alone. I don't necessarily need to leave the house, although there are times when it can be beneficial, but I do need to find a secluded place to spend time with God in prayer and meditation.

Getting up means I'm able to "start my day". If I get up before my kids, I'm able to have the quiet time I'd like to read the Bible, pray, and meditate before starting my day - having this time helps me to better react in the Spirit throughout the day.

Finding a quiet and secluded spot to pray and meditate helps me to truly focus on what the Lord is trying to tell me. To focus on HIM without all the distractions that life brings. While I need this daily, occasionally extended times of solitude are also critical for spiritual refreshment and reflection.