“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.” — Mark 1:35

Quiet Time

LeBron James, Serena Williams, Candace Parker and Tom Brady are well known. Many people recognize their face immediately. Their talent and popularity bring them lots of money, but sometimes they yearn for quiet time. How do famous people relieve stress? The late Elvis Presley rented movie theaters, bowling alleys, skating rinks and amusement parks for an evening to enjoy several hours with family and friends, without being mobbed by thousands of fans.

We all need time alone. 

It is good to work and God created us to be busy most of the time. On the other hand, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, advised him to let others help him do work. Periodically, God led Moses to go up on the mountain away from everyone except God. It was a time for Moses to pray and listen to God, but also a time for refreshing.

During Jesus’ ministry, He worked day and night, but he took time away from the crowds occasionally. “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place” (Mark 6:31-32).

Our televisions and phones keep us busy for hours, but they don’t help us worry less. Our emotional explosions happen more often if we don’t have quiet moments to relieve stress. Jesus renewed Himself with prayer and the words of Scripture. As Job said, God’s Word is more important than food. “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12b).

If you didn’t know where Jesus was, He was probably in a quiet place praying. “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” (Mark 1:35).

— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.