“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he [Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.””
(Mark 6:31, NIV)
(Mark 6:31, NIV)
When God created everything as recorded in the book of Genesis, God ended his work with something special. God rested. That’s right! On the seventh day of creation, when God could have done anything desired, God rested. Why? Was God so weak after all that work? Hardly. God has unlimited power. So, why did God rest? If you look closely at the narrative in Genesis 1, God created humankind on the sixth day, then rested on the seventh for a reason. This was God’s way of showing humankind that holiness involves the need for holy rest.
Jesus continued this revelation about holy rest. When overwhelmed with crowds and healings and ministry, Jesus pulled the disciples together in Mark 6:31. They had been so busy doing God’s work that even their basic needs like food were neglected. That’s what can happen when you get so busy… even your basic needs are overlooked. You might forget to eat and drink. You might become caught up in the work, even if it is holy work. When the disciples and Jesus were in just a situation of over-busy-ness, Jesus said to the disciples, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31). Quiet time with Jesus was exactly what the disciples needed.
This was not the only time in Jesus’ ministry that He pulled the disciples away to a lonely place to rest or pray. Jesus also did this just after the death of John the Baptist when Jesus and the disciples were grieving (Luke 9:10). Jesus did this again on the night before His arrest when He took some disciples to the Mount of Olives as found in Luke 22:39. The very next verse (Luke 22:40) records Jesus telling the disciples to pray while there resting on the Mount of Olives at the Garden of Gethsemane.
Holy Rest and Prayer go together in creation, in Jesus’ life, but also in the Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment of Exodus 20:8 includes the will of God for Holy Sabbath Rest. Worship and prayer on the Sabbath were expected of the Israelite. Worship and prayer and Holy rest are also expected of you.
Why is it that God commands you to take time away to rest, to pray, to worship, to reconnect with your God? Because life and busy-ness have a way of pulling you away from your focus on God. It is all too easy to get caught up in doing work instead of being holy, making money instead of praying, living an unbalanced existence with no time for reflection and reconnection with the Almighty God who redeemed your soul.
An area retreat was offered for people to reconnect with God. A dozen churches were invited to participate. I was asked to be a counselor at the retreat, available for those needing help and guidance. I was also to lead sessions on prayer and worship and Bible Study. Late on the second night of the retreat, I found a man in the chapel. His head was bowed as if in prayer. I quietly slipped into the pew behind him and prayed for him. After a few minutes, the man opened his eyes and noticed me there praying. We started a quiet conversation. Then, he made a revealing statement about his own life, “I didn’t want to come to this retreat. I only came because I was pushed into it by my wife. Only a few moments ago I realized that it has been several years since I have prayed my heart out. I was always too busy, too tired, too rushed. Now, I realize how hungry for quiet prayer time my soul must have been.”
Martin Luther once commented, “I have so much to do that I will spend the first three hours in prayer.” How right he was! Too often prayer time, God time, rest time comes way too late. Why not begin your day with prayer and see how many things fall into place beautifully?
If Jesus asked you to retreat with Him to a lonely place today, would you go? Would you really? Would you complain? Would your heart be in it? Would you feel like you weren’t accomplishing anything?
I am amazed at the church people who treat prayer as wasted time! Several times in ministry, members commented that there were many more important things to do than pray! This exposed to me their need to take time for prayer. They were seeing quiet time with God as wasted time. But that’s what heaven will be like! Why is it viewed as wasted time?
Before you find yourself ill-at-ease, full of anxiety, or overworked and stressed, take a time out with Jesus! Discover the many blessings that come with prayer and quiet time with God. Practice this daily, weekly, yearly. I guarantee you will be a very different disciple in a short time!
Jesus continued this revelation about holy rest. When overwhelmed with crowds and healings and ministry, Jesus pulled the disciples together in Mark 6:31. They had been so busy doing God’s work that even their basic needs like food were neglected. That’s what can happen when you get so busy… even your basic needs are overlooked. You might forget to eat and drink. You might become caught up in the work, even if it is holy work. When the disciples and Jesus were in just a situation of over-busy-ness, Jesus said to the disciples, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31). Quiet time with Jesus was exactly what the disciples needed.
This was not the only time in Jesus’ ministry that He pulled the disciples away to a lonely place to rest or pray. Jesus also did this just after the death of John the Baptist when Jesus and the disciples were grieving (Luke 9:10). Jesus did this again on the night before His arrest when He took some disciples to the Mount of Olives as found in Luke 22:39. The very next verse (Luke 22:40) records Jesus telling the disciples to pray while there resting on the Mount of Olives at the Garden of Gethsemane.
Holy Rest and Prayer go together in creation, in Jesus’ life, but also in the Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment of Exodus 20:8 includes the will of God for Holy Sabbath Rest. Worship and prayer on the Sabbath were expected of the Israelite. Worship and prayer and Holy rest are also expected of you.
Why is it that God commands you to take time away to rest, to pray, to worship, to reconnect with your God? Because life and busy-ness have a way of pulling you away from your focus on God. It is all too easy to get caught up in doing work instead of being holy, making money instead of praying, living an unbalanced existence with no time for reflection and reconnection with the Almighty God who redeemed your soul.
An area retreat was offered for people to reconnect with God. A dozen churches were invited to participate. I was asked to be a counselor at the retreat, available for those needing help and guidance. I was also to lead sessions on prayer and worship and Bible Study. Late on the second night of the retreat, I found a man in the chapel. His head was bowed as if in prayer. I quietly slipped into the pew behind him and prayed for him. After a few minutes, the man opened his eyes and noticed me there praying. We started a quiet conversation. Then, he made a revealing statement about his own life, “I didn’t want to come to this retreat. I only came because I was pushed into it by my wife. Only a few moments ago I realized that it has been several years since I have prayed my heart out. I was always too busy, too tired, too rushed. Now, I realize how hungry for quiet prayer time my soul must have been.”
Martin Luther once commented, “I have so much to do that I will spend the first three hours in prayer.” How right he was! Too often prayer time, God time, rest time comes way too late. Why not begin your day with prayer and see how many things fall into place beautifully?
If Jesus asked you to retreat with Him to a lonely place today, would you go? Would you really? Would you complain? Would your heart be in it? Would you feel like you weren’t accomplishing anything?
I am amazed at the church people who treat prayer as wasted time! Several times in ministry, members commented that there were many more important things to do than pray! This exposed to me their need to take time for prayer. They were seeing quiet time with God as wasted time. But that’s what heaven will be like! Why is it viewed as wasted time?
Before you find yourself ill-at-ease, full of anxiety, or overworked and stressed, take a time out with Jesus! Discover the many blessings that come with prayer and quiet time with God. Practice this daily, weekly, yearly. I guarantee you will be a very different disciple in a short time!