Do you have a place where you can get away from everything for a few moments to be alone for the purpose of prayer? If not, you need to find a spot.

Several times through the Gospels, we read of Jesus heading out to a solitary spot for the purpose of prayer. This was a very regular occurrence for Jesus, and it should be for us as well.

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place… – Luke 4:42a

I have found such a spot not too far from my home. It’s far enough that I can’t just go there any time I want, because it’s about an hour away, but it is near Springfield, where I find myself frequently for ministry errands, hospital calls, and personal stuff. So every now and then I stop by and sit for a while.

It provides a great place to pray and reflect on what God is doing in my life, and in the lives of my wife and kids. It provides a nice location to seek his presence in my life, which can be busy and full to the point that I can’t really hear the still, small voice of God. It provides an atmosphere that is calm and peaceful, which can help my stress levels to lower, and my hurried nature to slow down and breath deep of the love of God.

For me, this place is a bluff that overlooks Lake Springfield. This photo is my view from that location. It is probably a hundred feet above the surface of the water, and there is a spot where I can sit on a big rock and just watch the breeze blow the trees and watch the cloud shadows as they pass over the lily pads. Occasionally, someone will float by in a kayak. Maybe they notice me; maybe they don’t.

It’s peaceful.

This is only one of the places I have found over the years where I can withdraw to a solitary place to spend some time with God. And I’m sure I will find other places in the future that will fulfill that role just as much as this place does. But for now, this is the spot. For now, this is where I feel like I can hear the whisper of God loud and clear.

It is at this location that I have poured out my heart on more than one occasion, and there have been some incredible moments of peace and assurance that have taken place with this view in front of me. Most of the time, I stop by when I am already in town for another reason; but once in a while, I go simply for the purpose of sitting there in the presence of God for a moment. And I always leave feeling filled to overflowing.

Just last week, I went simply to sit and seek some peace. The coming days will be filled… filled with travel, filled with school beginning, filled with planning events, writing sermons, ministering to others. And a few moments of solitude is critical to having what I need to continue pouring into the lives of others.

So I encourage you to go seek out a spot where you can simply sit and allow God’s presence to flow over you, to restore you and renew you, to fill you. Maybe it’s a place where you can pray; maybe it’s a place where you simply sit and listen. But take the time to do this.

Go find a solitary place and seek God there.

Question: Do you have a place such as this where you can go and seek God’s presence and peace? If so, how have you experienced God there? You can leave a comment by clicking here.