Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Mark 1:35

One mistake that we make in church leadership is that we too often ask people to get together and do something. Go to a small group! Come to worship service! We’ve got community events, potlucks, serve days, men’s breakfasts, women’s nights, youth group, and on and on and on.

Now, don’t get me wrong, all of those things are good and valuable. We should certainly gather together. There is the other extreme of forsaking gathering altogether and that is dangerous. Scripture tells us in Hebrews 10:25 to not neglect to gather together. We need the weekly–if not daily–encouragement of our loving church family to strengthen our faith and devotion to the Lord.

Still, there is something sweet and important about personal quiet time with the Lord that is equally valuable and often neglected. Finding a quiet place is about meeting with the Lord personally. We come before him in prayer and stillness. We share with him our hearts and minds. We ask him to lead and guide us. We pause and reflect on who he is and what he thinks about our daily affairs.

Jesus had rhythms and disciplines in his life. He was intentional with his time. We see Jesus making time in the morning while it was still dark to be quiet with God the Father. I would love to be a fly on the wall as Jesus spends time with his Father. I wonder if he shared the challenges he was facing in shaping the disciples or his frustration at the attempts of the religious leaders to thwart his ministry. I wonder if he spent time enjoying the Father’s affirmation–like on the day of his baptism when the Father said “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.”

Quiet places are hard to come by today. We can be in a room alone, but our phones and pads open us up to the roar of voices speaking. What makes for a good quiet place? I think solitude involves unplugging from other voices and finding a place where it is just you and God. Turn off your phone or at least put it on silent mode. Find somewhere the inspires you and is comfortable. Then, be still and connect with the Lord.

Personally, I experience the best quiet times with four key ingredients: time, nature, the Bible, and prayer. Time means I’m not rushed or worried about competing agendas. Nature helps me, because I easily see the glory of God in his creation and immediately feel closer to him. The Bible is God’s Word and meditating on his word clarifies his heart and his will for my life. Lastly, prayer is where I talk to God and offer words of praise, thanksgiving, lament, or just honest daily updates.

One of my favorite places to meet the Lord is in the prayer garden at our South Park campus of Forest Hill Church. There is a cross there and it’s shaded by big trees. I sit on a bench there and quiet my thoughts. There are three words carved in wood “Faith, Hope, Love”. I sit and I reflect. I love connecting with God in that quiet place.

How about you? When was the last time you found a quiet place to connect with God? I encourage you to follow the example of Jesus and go be with the Lord today. Make it a new part of your daily routine. May God bless you and encourage you as you find a quiet place.