“But Jesus often went away to be by himself and pray.” Luke 5:16 (NIRV)
My favorite daily activity happens right after I wake up, when I enjoy some focused prayer time with God before everything on my to-do list grabs my attention.
Life can get really busy. So much needs your attention – work, family, friends, chores, errands, online messages, and more. It can feel like you’re being pulled in many different directions. Even when you love God, you might find yourself rushing through your days without a close connection with him because your time for prayer gets taken by something else.
But Jesus set an example of taking rest breaks from a busy schedule to pray. Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often went away to be by himself and pray.” During his earthly ministry, Jesus had people following him all the time. Crowds came to hear Jesus teach, to be healed, and to ask questions. Jesus was doing the most important work of anyone who ever lived, yet he still made time to pull away from everything and everyone to be alone with God the Father.
Beyond the brief, spontaneous prayers Jesus said in the middle of his work, Jesus got away by himself so he could focus just on prayer. He stepped out of the busyness to find quiet places where he could talk with God without distractions. Jesus gave his full attention to prayer during those breaks. He made focused prayer a priority in his schedule. You can do the same.
Every day is busy. There’s always something waiting to be done. But you need time with God spiritually like your body needs air physically. Spending time alone with God in prayer is a necessity! You can’t grow closer to God without it.
So, regularly make time to step away from your work, your screens, and the people in your life to pray. You can do so early in the morning before the day begins, during your lunch break, on a walk, in your car, or at night when you’re getting ready for bed. What’s most important is just building habits of communicating with God that you enjoy, so you’ll be motivated to keep your regular meetings with God.
Getting away to pray helps you enjoy conversations with God that aren’t rushed. Thank God for who he is and what he’s doing in your life. Share your worries, your hopes, your struggles, and your joys. Then be quiet and just listen to what God’s Holy Spirit says to you. As you listen with focused attention, God will remind you that he’s with you and that he loves you. He’ll send you all the guidance and encouragement you need for whatever you’re talking about with him. Over time, you’ll see that your prayer meetings with God are the most valuable part of your schedule.
In between the times you’re getting away to pray focused prayers, keep praying quick prayers throughout your day. Prayers you pray in the moment, like “Help me,” “Send me peace”, or “Thank you, God” are also important. The Bible advises praying without stopping (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and that means staying connected to God all day long. God wants you to pray about everything that’s on your mind and heart, and he promises to send you peace when you do so. But brief prayers during the day can’t replace focused time with God. You need both the deep prayers and the quick prayers. Think of your relationship with God like a close friendship with one of your friends. You might send texts back and forth during the day, but if you never sit down to really talk and listen, the friendship won’t grow deep. God wants more than just quick check-ins. He wants your whole heart, which you can only give him through focused attention on a regular basis.
So, start building a habit of getting away from your other activities to pray. Set aside just 10 or 15 minutes at a time to pray quietly. Use a journal if that helps you focus. Read a Bible verse or passage and then pray about what it means. Ask God to meet you at that time, and he will. The more you get away to pray, the more natural it will feel to prioritize meetings with God in your schedule. You’ll start to look forward to your focused prayer times with God and enjoy the spiritual renewal and revival they bring into your life!
Let’s pray:
Dear God, I get so busy sometimes that I forget to slow down and spend time with you. Thank you for always being there, even when I don’t stop to talk to you as much as I should. Help me to make prayer a regular part of my day. Remind me that I need you all the time. Teach me to get away to pray like Jesus did. Show me how to find quiet times with you that I can enjoy regularly, even in the middle of my busy life. Help me to listen to you and grow closer to you. Thank you for loving me and always wanting to be with me. I love you too. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Tinnakorn Jorruang
Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.
In our conversation, we explore:
✨ How to hold space for yourself and others in difficult seasons
✨ The power of compassionate words when life feels overwhelming
✨ Practical ways to embrace healing and take one more step forward
If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Monday, 19 May 2025.
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