Quiet Time

Sunday, Allie and Alexi went to church camp.  Allie was so nervous.  It wasn't her first time there (she's practically spent every summer there!).  She loves it and always has a great time!  But this year, it was just the two of them and she hates to be away from home.  She cried Saturday night when she said goodbye to Austin, she cried before church, she cried as she put her hair straightener in her bag to take it.  She wouldn't let Timm come with me to drop her off at Jenny & Alexi's house.  I tried really hard to act like it didn't bother me.  But inside, I was nervous for her.  I know she is have the best time and she needs this time away from everyone.  I too loved my time at camp.  The quietness, the calmness, the communing with God in that beautiful valley.

There are many instances where Jesus went alone to pray.  After he fed the crowd of 5,000 he went to be alone.
Mark 6:45-46
 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away.  After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. 

Three times in the Garden of Gethsemene Jesus went off and prayed alone.  He was alone when Satan took him and tempted him.
Luke 4:1-2
 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. 

When Jesus did a big miracle, he needed to go and talk to God.  He needed that time to rejuvenate himself.  Not his power, but maybe his mindset, his human side.  When he was done, he seemed to always be "in the Spirit".  We need that too.  We need to set aside some time to just be quiet, pray, read a devotion.  It helps with our whole being.  God wants not just our minds, but our bodies and souls too.

Do you have a time when you go away and be alone?  Where you can be quiet and listen for God.  I miss the early mornings at camp.  The sun just coming up, the birds calling to one another, the dew still on the grass, the fog that sometimes settles in that valley.  Before the kids get up and the day begins.  For me those mornings are a special time.