The Devil and Diversion
A Solitary Place – Part 2

Scripture Reading:  Mark 1:29-34

Key Verse:  Mark 1:35

    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.

When the disciples went looking for Jesus, they had a hard time finding Him at first.  Jesus had found a solitary place.  Jesus knew prayer was best in quiet places, free of distractions.  Jesus knew that if He did not get up early, the day would eat up His quiet moments with His Father.  Good, well-meaning people would fill up the hours and keep Him doing “good stuff,” but not the “best stuff” needed for effective living.

            The devil won’t try to get most of us to step into some obvious immorality or dark sinfulness.  Spiritual maturity moves us beyond that stuff.  The strategy for mature Christ followers must be much more subtle.  Our enemy will work on keeping us from doing the absolute best things for spiritual vitality.  He does this by keeping us doing many good things—church kinds of things.  They are not bad choices, just not the best choices.  No one is going to criticize you for it.  In fact, this busyness in “good things” will probably get you praise—from the crowd.  But your heavenly Father sees the truth; you chose the “good” rather than the “best”!

            If you get nothing else done today, what is the one thing you must do?  If your answer is anything other than connecting with your heavenly Father, the enemy has fooled you.  He has convinced you that a “quick prayer” on the run is good enough!

Father, please forgive my lack of attention to my time with you!  Remind me, Holy Spirit, of the eternal importance of my quiet time.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.