Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 302 – Luke 5:15-16 – Often Withdrew To Lonely Places And Prayed – Growing As Disciples
Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)
Withdraw
There is no doubt about it, that is what I need to do, right now. What do you need to do right now? I need to withdraw from the busyness of life to meet with you in prayer. Why do you need to meet with me in prayer? I’m running on empty. I am weary and worn out. I have been allowing myself to be swallowed up by the busyness of life. I have been running myself ragged. I am certain that I have allowed others to set the pace and agenda of my life. It seems like I have been chasing one great idea after another. None of them are bad. All of them are good. Something has give. Something has to go. My life is lacking a defined purpose and a focused direction. I’d have to say that my life is somewhat of a scattered mess. I need to pull back. I need to refocus. I need you to revive and refresh and restore my life. I need to receive guidance and instruction from you. I want to know where you are leading me. I want to know what you are giving me to do. For all these reasons, I need to quiet myself before you. I need to meet with you in prayer. Yes, you do.
Come to me. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Quiet yourself before me so you can hear me speaking to you. I will revive and refresh and restore your life. I will show you where I am leading you. I will show you what I am giving you to do. I have a purpose and plan for your life. You will receive guidance and instruction from me. I will strengthen you. I will empower you. Rest in my presence. In me, you will find hope and meaning and purpose. In me, your life will overflow with joy and thanksgiving. I will come. I will draw near. I will quiet myself before you. That will be very good.
I do know one thing for sure. What’s that? You are leading me to you. You want me to go deeper with you in prayer. You want me to learn to do the work of prayer. I don’t need to run here and there and everywhere. I don’t need to come up with a great idea. I don’t need to seek to achieve some great accomplishment. You simply want me to hear from you. You want me to pray the prayers that you will give me to pray as I meet with you in prayer. Yes, I do.
Lord, I will withdraw from the busyness of life to meet with you. I will not let the demands of life distance me from you. I will not allow myself to be swallowed up by all the demands of life. I will go to a quiet place so that I can hear from you as we meet in prayer. Amen
Key Question… How have you been revived, refreshed and restored as you have met with the Lord in prayer?
Living It Out… Make it your daily pattern to withdraw from the busyness of life to meet with the Lord in prayer.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that it will be well worth your time to withdraw to meet with the Lord in prayer.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are making it your pattern to regularly withdraw to pray.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you take time to withdraw from the busyness of life so you can pray.
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