“He would withdraw to deserted places to pray.” Luke 5:16
““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
““Jesus went out to a mountain side to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” Luke 6:12
Continually Jesus withdrew from people, daily life activities, and the demands of his ministry to be alone with the Father and pray. God Himself, incarnate as man, felt it necessary to go off and pray in silence. To connect with the Father and recharge His Spirit.
“Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing….If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” John 15:5-8
If a soul doesn’t know “Love” (1 John 4:8) how can the soul love?
How does one come to know “Love”? By spending time in quiet with Jesus…prayer. But, let’s not over complicate this, one thing I’ve learned over the past em year especially is that prayer is simply sitting with Jesus. Sometimes it is just sitting in silence, listening or maybe just being together in comfortable silence. Other times it may be just taking to Him, no complex formula or method, just talk as if He were right in front of you, because when you call upon Him, He is right there. No huge “O all-mighty God” prayer is needed, He is a great friend Who will enjoy just listening. At times, pleading and begging, I come in prayer but more often now, in times of ‘great need’ I come praising Him and trust that Jesus knows my deepest need as well as the best path – so I let it go in praise.
Yes, often for me I find peace and calm in the rhythm of prayer – the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Holy Rosary, Divine Office, Holy Mass (many times these are often best shared with my wife).
The quiet place, that is where I find God and when His ‘still small voice’ can be heard. Now, that I’ve found the quiet, it is so much easier to hear His Voice outside ‘in the world’