Spending Time With Our Father

One of the most surprising or confusing stories of Jesus is when He chose to avoid people who needed help.

In the Gospel of Luke, we see people flocking to Him. They’re hanging on His every word. They’re eager to hear His teaching. They want to catch a glimpse of one of His miracles.

In the middle of all this momentum, Jesus drops everything. He leaves the crowds. And He goes to “lonely” places. Not because He’s in search of a scenic getaway, but because He wants to spend time with His Father.

Why? Because He knew that without this relationship, everything else would fall apart.

This habit of withdrawing to reconnect with God is one way we can unplug ourselves from unhelpful technology habits and pursue a better way of living.

Jesus didn’t just go to God for answers—He went to God for a relationship. For long conversations, for silence in His presence, and for processing big moments and important decisions.

There’s a time and place to send up quick prayers, and God hears them, but the kind of prayer Jesus modeled often looked slow—and sometimes messy. It was less like using a divine AI search engine, and more like a long, genuine conversation.

What does your prayer life look like?

When we make a habit of pressing pause on the demands of life to make room for our relationship with our heavenly Father, everything changes. We find the love, support, and wisdom we need to navigate life, connect with others, and make sense of the world around us.

This may look like getting up early to spend time with God, going on a nature walk to worship God for the things He’s made, spending quiet moments in prayer on a drive, or going on an extended retreat to practice silence and solitude.

Today, start with this: Set a timer for five minutes. Sit in silence or talk with God. Make time to slow down and rejoice in His presence. Then spend time journaling and reflecting.

Journal and Reflect

• What’s your go-to way of connecting with your heavenly Father?
• How could you make getting away and connecting with God more of a habit this week?

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You for wanting to spend time with me. Help me to prioritize my relationship with You above all else. I want to connect with You more. Remind me to turn to You first in all things. Help me feel Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For more on the value of silence and solitude, check out this article.