As I read the book of Luke, I find many times after Jesus has performed miracles, gathered with others, or made decisions as in appointing His disciples, “He often withdrew to the wilderness to pray.” (Luke 5:16 TLB)

You can find many scriptures in Luke that will reveal the times Jesus “Went away to pray.” In my daily reading, here are a few scriptures that spoke clearly to my spirit.
Luke 5:16
Luke 6: 12-13
Luke 9:10

It’s vital as we minister the gospel of Jesus Christ to others to “Come Away” and spend some quiet time with God. We find in the Bible, Jeremiah 33:3, when God says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”  It’s here, in our intimate time with the Lord, that we can rest in His presence and receive from Him alone without interference and the business of life.

Over the years, before ministering to one person or many people, I have learned to seek God and ask Him, “Lord, what do you want?” just as Jesus did before appointing His twelve disciples. In Luke 6, verses 12 and 13, it reads, “One day soon afterwards he went out into the mountains to pray, and prayed all night. At daybreak he called together his followers and chose twelve of them to be the inner circle of his disciples.” It’s when we have important decisions to make or ministry to administer that we must “Come Away” with Jesus to seek His will in the situation.

I have learned never to rush to judgment or to return to the ministry field until God has released me. There have been times when I came out of my secret place with Jesus too soon. I’m reminded of Psalms 91: 1, which reads, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” It’s in that space we get our next assignment with instructions from the Lord.

Allow me to encourage you to seek Christ first – spend time with Him in prayer before ministering to others. Ask, “God, what are You speaking?” “What do you desire?” Then after you have ministered, return to God and be filled once again with His holy power.

Being “Ready to Pray,” one must go deeper into the Word of the Lord. As we get better acquainted with the Word of God, the Bible, we grow to know God better and gain wisdom and revelation knowledge to pray in accordance with His will.

For me, I still away with Jesus sitting on fluffy pillows with soft orchestra music playing and candles burning. This brings a calm atmosphere and an opportunity to hear from God through His still small voice.

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How do you come away with Jesus? Share your suggestions in the comments below.