Secluded Service

When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.” So He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. Luke 4:42-44

This passage isn’t necessarily about prayer, but generally when Jesus went to a secluded place it was for the purpose of spending time with the Heavenly Father. He was intentional to try to get this time but sometimes the crowds prevented Him from having this time of solitude. Jesus had many times where He escaped the crowd, but when they were seeking Him, He generally had compassion and met with them, in secluded service, teaching, healing, and ministering to their needs. Jesus met those truly searching for Him where they were. However, He let them know He couldn’t just stay with them.

I often feel overwhelmed and need to seclude myself to process with the father. My spirit and soul yearn for a time of prayer, presence and praise so that my soul can rest and be restored. Generally, this gets put off when the demands of life and other people call on me. I can learn a lesson from Christ’s example that there are times when I might need to seclude myself but when I put the demands of others before my self-care and solitude. Not that I can neglect the disciplines, because that is not Christ example either. However, there may come times where serving others is the ministry that God is asking of me in that moment, where he is asking me for secluded service to others for Him.

Lord, help me to understand those times where ministering to others needs to be put before that time of solitude with you. Help me to see that really the ministry to others is the secluded service You are calling me too. Help also not to neglect that intentional time of getting away with You so You can minister to me in Solitude.