Depart to Stay Aligned: Spending Time with the Father

John 6:15
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Jesus valued stepping away and departing from the busyness of life to stay aligned with God’s purposes.

Jesus had just healed the man at the pool of Bethesda and taught the teeming crowds that followed. And now the crowds were hungry and He feeds them. All four Gospel accounts record this miracle. Luke mentioned that Jesus went out to a deserted place to be alone (Luke 9:10), yet the crowds followed Him there. Despite this imposition, Jesus still served the multitude with great compassion. The loving Saviour understood. He provided them food for their physical hunger, just as He had their spiritual hunger.

The crowds were impressed and thrilled. And their response? They wanted to make Jesus king, by force. Jesus wanted no part in that. He knew well enough that becoming an earthly king was not part of the purpose or plan for His time on earth. His response? Jesus departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. Jesus wasn’t impressed or seduced by a crowd that wanted to make Him king. He turned His back on the crowd and went to pray. Jesus was more interested in being with His Father than receiving the crowd’s applause.

Now the fact is that Jesus though fully human, is fully God too. Jesus knew precisely the plans for His time on earth and what He needed to accomplish. So, why did He dedicate extensive time alone, engaged in prayer with His Father? Did He really need to keep seeking the Father in prayer? Yes, He spent time with His Father, to talk to Him, to understand His heart, and to stay aligned with the Father’s will.

If as God Himself, Jesus takes time off to re-calibrate by Himself and with His Father, how much more you and I?

How well are you aligning your life with the Father’s will to refocus and realign your priorities to His perfect will? Is your prayer – Be Thou My Vision? Do you embrace time alone with God as an important part of your day?

Lord, help me daily seek to spend time with you, listen to your heart and align my life with your perfect will.