I love walking with Jesus. He walk by me, speaks to me, guides me, comforts me and holds me up. Amongst other things… Walking with Him is the greatest and most unbelievably freeing thing that can happen to a person. We talk to each other in conversation, or we just walk in companionable silence. This is what walking in Him is like, for me at least.

Sometimes, though, it’s good to spend a more dedicated time with Him. To get alone with Him in a quiet place so that we can discuss things in more detail. Or simply to hear His voice more clearly without the hurly-burly of everyday life. It’s very much like going out on a date with my wife – a time for just us, without chores to do or other people to please.

Like how Jesus said to His friends in Mark 6:31, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while”

My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away” – Song of Sol 2:10 (ESV)

Many believers practice a ‘quiet time’, in which they do just this; they retire to a secluded location – say a bedroom or study – and spend time just being with Jesus. The quiet time can consist of anything that the believer wants to bring to Jesus: worship, prayer, chatting, or just spending time sitting with Him. And such times are beautiful, sacred and blessed times.

Sadly, I’ve also heard of some people who see the quiet time as a ‘requirement’; a sacrament almost, and they have an almost legalistic approach. ‘Unless I have my quiet time’, they think, ‘God will not bless me’. Well, that’s not true. He meets with each of us in a different way according to our personalities, needs and predilections. There’s no need to be legalistic about something that’s supposed to be a joy; equally if the idea of ‘quiet time’ does not work for you, that’s no problem either! You and He, between you, will find a way in which you can bless each other in your own personal way.

So, if you love the quiet time, go for it; grab it with both hands. Don’t have any hangups about it, though, if you miss one! Really, it’s a decision for each believer and there’s no right or wrong way of doing these things.  But I would recommend you try it. Relax and bask in His Presence. There doesn’t need to be any prayer requests, and conversation even. Just be there and see what He says to you.

What if you can’t find somewhere to ‘hide’ for your quiet time? What if you need His presence right away? I believe that each person has a ‘secret place’ within their own heart where Jesus lives by His Holy Spirit (cf. Mt 6:6). And I believe that this, with practice, can be accessed at any time. So, even in the midst of trouble, you can ascend the secret stairway into your Secret Place and commune with Jesus. This is going to be different for each believer, but in essence we are achieving the same thing. It’s finding the still, quiet place in the soul from which all your strength flows.

I hope this makes sense. It’s a bit deep, I admit, but it is really good to be able to do this. Ask Jesus for His instructions on how to do it!

Here are a couple of songs which may be of help.

Firstly, Don Francisco’s classic ‘Come Away’:

Come away, come away
Into quiet and trust, come away
Come away, come away
In repentance and rest, come away

For the heavens are telling the glory of God
The works of His hands teach His ways
The night reveals knowledge we must understand
His invisible nature, is explained through the days

Come away, come away,
Into quiet and trust, come away
Come away, come away,
In repentance and rest, come away

For the Lord of creation is calling you now
To a place where the thief has no key
Where your Father gives treasure that can never be lost
And the love of the Spirit of Grace sets you free

– Music and Lyrics by Don Francisco, used with his permission

And then the brilliant ‘Awesome in this Place’, led here by Kent Henry:

As I come into Your presence
Past the gates of praise
Into Your sanctuary
Till we’re standing face to face

I look upon Your countenance
I see the fullness of Your grace
I can only bow down and say

You are awesome in this place, Mighty God
You are awesome in this place, Abba Father;
You are worthy of all praise
To You our lives we raise
You are awesome in this place, Mighty God

So, can I encourage you to think about generating the habit of spending time with Jesus. Walk with Him, yes of course, but take the time to be alone with Him too on occasion. Daily, weekly, every hour, whatever you would like to do. You may well find that you love these times so much that you want to do it more; alternatively, maybe you’ll realise it’s not really your thing. But just give it a go and see what happens!

Bless you!