Making a Withdrawal

The word in italics is often. This means that it was not in the original Greek, but was inserted by the translators for clarity. The sentence reads this way: So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed - Luke 5:16. Even though the word was inserted for clarity, it is infact clear that Jesus did this very thing - often withdrew to pray. So many people wanting to be where Jesus was - where the action was. So many wanting to be healed. So many wanting to see the miraculous. So many needs. So little time. So much popularity. So little privacy. As it would appear, Jesus chose the priority of His private life. It's not that He didn't have a public life - that is obvious, but not to the neglect of His private life. In fact, His private prayer life. It's not that He was just needing a little 'me time', but rather communion with Father God. The challenge for me then is to discover how to often withdraw to prayer. I can easily figure out withdrawing from people, but should remember to leave my cell phone and ipad too. And to withdraw from some of the things that dominate my thoughts. It would also be good to think through the 'where' to withdraw to. Will any old place do? Do I simply find a place wherever I am? Do I make a place (headphones in Starbucks)? Or do I have a place, like the Hobbit Hole (and that means comfort!). However the details work out, I will begin the pattern of making withdrawals. I guess this is the time when making a withdrawal, is actually making an investment!