During a
concert, singer-songwriter David Wilcox responded to a question from the
audience about how he composes songs. He said there are three aspects to his
process: a quiet room, an empty page, and the question, “Is there something I
should know?” It struck me as a wonderful approach for followers of Jesus as we
seek the Lord’s plan for our lives each day.
Throughout
Jesus’s public ministry, He took time to be alone in prayer. After feeding
5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish, He sent His disciples to
cross the Sea of Galilee by boat while He dismissed the crowd (Matt. 14:22).
“After [Jesus] had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to
pray. Later that night, he was there alone” (v. 23).
If the Lord
Jesus saw the need to be alone with His Father, how much more do we need a
daily time of solitude to pour out our hearts to God, ponder His Word, and
prepare to follow His directions. A quiet room—anywhere we can focus on the
Lord without distractions. An empty page—a receptive mind, a blank sheet
of paper, a willingness to listen. Is there something I should know?
“Lord, speak to me by Your Spirit, Your written Word, and the assurance of Your
direction.”
From that quiet
hillside, Jesus descended into a violent storm, knowing exactly what His Father
wanted Him to do (vv. 24–27).
Taking time to be with God is the best place to find strength. (ODB)
