Time Alone for God

Kimberly Novak shares struggles with consistency in prayer following a health crisis and brainstorms some solutions.  

The saying goes, "It’s 5 o’clock somewhere." This phrase often refers to an evening time for celebratory cocktails. Would Jesus mind if we attributed the exact phrase to early morning prayer?  

I have always been drawn to the image of Jesus praying. Contemplating the humanity of His relationship with God brings me closer to Him. Life certainly was different in Jesus’ day, and many might consider Him to have a lot of time on His hands. However, when you stop to think about it, Jesus had twelve kids who followed Him daily. 

Many sitcoms depict busy moms hiding in closets or locking themselves in the bathroom for peace. When my kids were little, I’m sure there were days when I could do that, and now that my children are older, I have no excuse for not rising early to find quiet time with God. 

A recent health crisis has altered my sleep and energy, making it difficult for me to rise as early as I used to. Still, I can’t see that as a valid excuse when I reflect on everything Jesus did for me. When I skip that time, I'm forced to find alternatives to my deserted place where I pray.

Just as I was becoming frustrated with my lack of consistency in prayer, I was reminded of the many times Jesus prayed. As I reflected on the scene scripture set up for me, I imagined that if it was early morning and dark, it must have been 5 o’clock, at least in my time zone.   

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35) 

Jesus needed prayer to get through His days; why are we any different?  

In His humanity, Jesus, the Son of God, needed quiet time and a prayerful connection to get through His days; we are no different. Jesus was always in prayer mode, and the Bible references Jesus going off to pray at least 25 times. This leads one to believe that time alone with God is necessary for a faithful relationship with Him. 

How can we busy moms or grandparents weave solitude into our daily lives without upsetting schedules or losing sleep? Remember, Jesus got up early when it was still dark, but He wasn’t up late packing lunches and backpacks.  A deserted place to pray can and will look different for all of us. Setting aside a regular place to pray is nice, but not having such a spot should not deter you from a consistent prayer life. It is what happens in that space that matters, and that connection with God can happen anywhere.  

Setting the intention  

As a spiritual director, I know how important my prayer life is, and I have had to make some major shifts to connect with God. Here are some suggestions that can be applied to anyone, no matter who they are or how busy their schedule is. 

• Set your alarm 10 minutes earlier than anyone else would require your attention. Do this for a couple of weeks, gradually increasing until you are satisfied with the allotted prayer time.  

• Find one spot in your day when you can separate your mind and thoughts from the world around you — even if that is standing in line at the grocery store. Breathe in God and exhale your love for Him. Try this throughout the day, and before you know it, you will be craving prayerful solitude enough to make a real effort to carve out consistent time alone in prayer.   

• If you do not have a young one pulling you out of bed, try praying before you get up. Use that first morning breath to communicate with God.   

• Involve the little ones by teaching them that Jesus prayed. Depending on their age, share why you think alone time with God is essential to your day, and encourage them to do the same. If you can set aside the same time of day, the kids will be involved in their prayer, thus giving you the solitude you need.  

Once these prayer moments become a habit, they energize both spirit and body. You will soon find a deeper connection to God, a warmth of the Holy Spirit within you, and pure joy.  I can’t think of anything more satisfying — not even that 5 o’clock evening cocktail.  

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Copyright 2024 Kimberly Novak
Images: Canva