Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
While enjoying a rare time of complete solitude, it occurred to me how valuable such time is and how unwise it is that we spend so little of it. We might think it a terrible waste of time for the Lord to be totally separated from all company. Surely His every waking moment would be better spent in teaching or healing; and surely if any man could ever live without time to himself, it would be our Lord: We find, however, that it was His custom to often be apart from all activity and distraction in quiet communion. Perhaps we consider our time wasted if we are not engaged in some activity which promotes our gain or entertainment. We live life in the fast lane; after all it's the nineties. We don't have time to think. There is too much to do and if not, there's always something on TV.
Thousands of decisions are made every day, and sadly most of them are made without any thought. It is impossible to give due consideration to anything without this precious alone time. Peter committed a grave error of which he considered himself incapable, and it was not until he thought thereon that he saw his deeds in their true perspective and wept (Mark 14:72). King David said, I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies (Ps. 119:59). How often would our feet be turned otherwise than they are if we took time alone for prayerful thought such as this.
Our Lord was not reclusive and neither are His people. He went about everywhere doing good (Mt. 4:23) and tirelessly conducted His Father's business saying, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:4). We also have business to attend to, but how we ought to prize, as He did, the opportunity to worship and do as it was said of these, Then came the disciples to Jesus apart (Mt. 17:19). We delight to worship Him publicly, yet even that time would be better, spent were we to more often do so privately. It was when Jacob was left alone (Gen. 32:24) that he met the Son of God and was never the same again. We hear of the precious Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His priceless blood to wash us from our sins, yet how offer, do we quietly meditate upon His Person and grace without distraction or interruption and sweetly commune with Him? Surely He is worthy of our alone time, and we are our own enemy if we neglect what would enrich all of our other hours.
Ps. 104:34 My meditation (prayer, musing) of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
