A Quiet Place
Pastoral | February 20, 2025 | By: Larry Anderson
I am always amazed when I read the Gospels and the accounts of the life of Jesus. If I am careful and prayerful, I learn about myself as well. I want my life to always reflect Jesus. I want my life to honor Him and allow others to see Him. I know we are all busy and pulled in many directions. I also think we would agree that Jesus was busy, too. And that makes the following passage of Scripture that much more important.
That evening at sundown they brought to Him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. And He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him, and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” And He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And He went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. – Mark 1:32-39
In the midst of a busy schedule of activities—healing suffering people, casting out devils, responding to impatient disciples, traveling from town to town, and preaching from synagogue to synagogue—we find these quiet words: 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.
I have always been amazed that Christ knew the secret to His ministry was hidden in that lonely place where He went to pray, early in the morning, long before dawn. Despite the breathless activities, we hear a restful breathing. In the many hours of moving, we find a moment of quietness. In the heart of much involvement, there are words of solitude. During action, there is contemplation. And after much togetherness, there is alone time.
Christ knew the secret to His ministry was hidden in that lonely place where He went to pray.
In the lonely place, Jesus finds the courage to follow God’s will and not His own; to speak God’s words and not His own; to do God’s work and not His own. It is in the lonely place, where Jesus enters into intimacy with the Father, that His ministry is born.
In these times of prayer, Jesus comes to understand His identity and mission. In prayer, He experiences God’s will and direction, and affirms that it is God who sends Him, who gives Him the words to say and the deeds to fulfill. Jesus never claims any glory for Himself but always refers to God’s glory: The words I am speaking are not My words but those given Me by My Father. The works I am doing are not My works, but the works of My Father. The glory to which I bear witness is not My glory, but the glory of My Father (John 5:30; 14:10).
For Jesus, and I believe for us, prayer provides the insight and affirmation that if we do anything that is worthwhile—teaching, healing, organizing, working for good—we can never claim it as our own achievement. Instead, we acknowledge it as a gift from God, and the result is in His hands. Indeed, to pray, “not my will, but Yours.”
I hope we know that without a quiet place, we are in trouble. We need to understand that without silence, words lose their meaning; and without listening, speaking no longer heals. I am often asked how we get our biblical knowledge from our head to our heart. The answer, of course, is prayer. I need to regularly make space for the Spirit to move in my heart, to fill me and remind me that I belong to Him, I am His beloved. Then whatever comes out of my life belongs to Him and is the result of quiet time I have spent with Him. It is all for His glory.
Please pray with me.
Heavenly Father, I am here today through a mighty strength, the name of Jesus, who was crucified and rose again and who even now intercedes for us and the Holy Spirit sent to be our Comforter, Helper and power. I confess that my eyes and my heart are too often focused on me and not You. Forgive me, Lord, and please give me eyes to see You in my life and ears to hear Your voice in my heart. Grant me, please, the joy of Your salvation and a boldness to live each moment for Your kingdom and glory. I pray for Your strength to direct me, Your love to hold me, Your wisdom to guide and speak through me. Christ within me, Christ before me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me. Lord, I choose above all else to live this day with You. I joyfully offer You my time, my attitudes, my energy, and my words. With Your help, I will fill this day with obedience, gratitude, humility, and joy. And in all of this, I pray my life will glorify You.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Larry Anderson
Staff Shepherding Pastor
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