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Time Alone with Jesus

by anne graham lotz Prayer
Time Alone with Jesus

Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. — Luke 5:16

Often when I am under stress and pressure, I feel one of my greatest needs is to get a good night’s sleep. But I’ve found that physical rest alone is not enough to revive my flagging spirit. I need the spiritual revival that comes from spending quiet time alone with Jesus in prayer and in thoughtful meditation on His Word.

A careful study of the life of Jesus reveals that as pressed as He was, He “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” If Jesus felt He needed time alone in prayer with His Father, why do you and I think we can get by without it?

How is your prayer life?

Could some of the exhaustion you are feeling be the result of simple prayerlessness? How motivating it has been for me to view my early-morning devotions as times of retreat alone with Jesus, who desires that I come with Him by myself to a quiet place to pray, read His Word, listen for His voice, and be renewed in my spirit.

~Just Give Me Jesus

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Unconditional Surrender

By this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. — 1 John 3:24 NKJV

When the Holy Spirit comes into you at your invitation, you receive as much of Him as you will ever have. You do not get a little bit of Him then and a little bit more at later experiences. Since He is a Person, you cannot get Him in pieces.

You either have all of the Holy Spirit or you have none of the Holy Spirit.

Why is it, then, that He seems to get us in pieces? He comes to us unconditionally, while we surrender to Him conditionally.

We give Him our Sundays but not our Mondays.
We give Him our actions but not our attitudes.
We give Him our relationships but not our reputations.
We give Him our time but not our thoughts.
We give Him our burdens but not our bodies.
We give Him our prayers but not our pleasures.
We give Him our crises but not our children.
We give Him our health but not our hearts.
Would you drop the conditions and give Him all of you?

~Just Give Me Jesus

Excerpted with permission from The Joy of My Heart by Anne Graham Lotz, copyright Anne Graham Lotz.

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Your Turn

Our souls need prayer. Our bodies need prayer. Our lives need prayer! God wants it all, not just a little. What are you giving Him today?

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About the Author: Anne Graham Lotz

Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, is the president and CEO of AnGeL Ministries, a nonprofit organization that draws people into a life-changing relationship with God through his Word. Anne launched her revival ministry in 2000 and has spoken on six continents, in more than twenty foreign countries, proclaiming the Word of God in arenas, churches, seminaries, and prisons. She is also the award-winning author of ten books, including her most recent, Wounded by God's People.

Website URL: http://www.annegrahamlotz.com/