But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. (Luke 5:16 NAS95)
As I have considered Jesus, especially my desire to imitate Him, God has drawn my attention to Jesus’ interior life with His Father. Yes, Jesus not only is an example of who God is, but also an example of what a relationship with God is like. Luke emphatically indicates Jesus had a habit of seeking seclusion to meet with His Father. I often consider Jesus in the clothes of Diety, and I easily forget that He shows us what humans were meant to be like. This passage prompts me to consider my own life with God and how essential cultivation of that relationship is for me to become what He desires: someone like Jesus.
Jesus obviously expected to meet and experience a real and meaningful relationship with His Father. In fact, His intentionality and regularity indicate that He loved meeting with God and something meaningful occurred when they met. Granted, Jesus remained in step and communion with His Father at all times, but He longed for special times, focus, intimacy, and rest where He felt understood, embraced, and emotionally empowered. This, He sought from His Father, and it enriched His desire for regular times of communion. I now recognize I cannot imitate Christ without imitating His passion for cultivating His interior life, inner awareness of God’s presence and communications. I hunger for alone time with God because I find His phenomenal embrace awaiting. I trust you feel the same.
For Reflection:
“He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. The LORD keeps all who love Him,” (Psalms 145:19–20 NAS95)
- What motivates you to meet with God? If you looked at the level of your regularity of meeting with God, what does that say about your intentionality or experience of times with Him?
- What emotions do you experience both during and after your times with God?
