“He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest a while.’ For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.” - Mark 6:31
The other day I had the morning off from work, so I headed out to my "quiet place." It’s a place about a half mile away from my house and is right near a pond with a beautiful landscape. I go there as often as I can because it gives me a chance to get away from the world and its distractions. No matter how many times I go there, I still can't help but marvel at how beautiful it is.
While I’m in this kind of environment, I’m struck by how amazing it is that God took the time to create such a magnificent world for us to live in. Think about it. Even with something as simple as the many different colors God used. He could have easily made just one shade of blue, one shade of red, one shade of yellow, and so on, but He didn't! I just can't help but praise Him for having such creativity.
These days, I think it’s important that we all have a place where we can just get away. To get away from cell phones, sports, friends, teammates, coaches, family, homework, bosses, the Internet and the thousands of other distractions and influences in our lives. We all need a place to go where it can be just us and God—a place where we can truly focus on Him and nothing else. The kind of place where we can find real answers to the questions and struggles we are facing.
In a world full of distraction and productivity, this can be tough, but I believe it is important. Jesus often sought solitude with the Father, and we should do the same. So, I ask you today, do you have a quiet place? If not, try to find one. It can be any place as long as there are no distractions there. No people, no cell phones, no Internet. Just you and the Almighty Creator of the Universe. He certainly wants to spend time with you. Why not let Him?
1. Do you have a quiet place? If so, where is it? If not, can you think of one that could be a place where you can go to get away from distractions?
2. Is there a certain day of the week can you commit to spending time in your quiet place? Do you need to physically put it on a calendar?
3. Why is it necessary to get away for alone time with God? List all the reasons you can think of.
4. How will you protect this time from getting absorbed by other things? Why is this necessary?
Psalm 37:7
Matthew 6:6; 14:23
Mark 6:45-46
Luke 5:15-16
About the Author:
Zach Crowley is a football coach and youth worker in Illinois.