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Alone With God

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

One of the blessings associated with being a hunter is the “time alone” you have with God.  In addition to enjoying His great creation, challenging your woodsman’s skills, and trying to be stealth like while creeping around with a bow and arrow - a hunter has a great deal of silent time to contemplate life.  While my total hunting time might only be a week or so, I know that my morning quiet time in my office overlooking the beautiful Spokane River gives me an opportunity to be alone with God.

I’m reminded of what the Apostle Matthew told us about this subject, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6  Mankind was created for fellowship with God.  God made us in His likeness that we might be capable of entering into His will and delight in His glory through a vibrant relationship.  To build a meaningful relationship with God we need to take the time and effort to engage.

I can see why many great philosophers and abstract thinkers went to quiet places where they would not be disturbed by outside influences.  Telephones, computers, emails, fax machines, and the hurried environments we live in have distracted and disturbed our inner voice.  The Holy Spirit was given to us as a compass or guide for our lives.  Without quiet time we often fall prey to our lusts, plans, and desires rather than God’s plan for our lives. 

I’ve outlined many chapters of my books while sitting in a ground blind waiting and waiting for the right animal to come along.  Often during these quiet times I find the answers to problems that have confounded me for many weeks.  Reflective prayer helps me understand God’s priorities and plan for my ministry, my family, and my life.  Quite frankly I need to spend more time alone with God.

Having undisturbed time in the woods or in your personal quiet place is not an option for a person serious about listening to God’s call upon his or her life.  Communion with God is meant to be ours every day, no matter our state of mind, or the circumstances that surround us.  Have you noticed that the enjoyment of our quiet moments depends upon the amount of time we have in fellowship (prayer and reflective meditation)? 

The depth of fellowship we have with our Creator all day long depends entirely upon the intensity with which we seek to secure quiet times where we can reflect upon His word, His Spirit, and His inspiration.  True fellowship is giving our love, our hearts, and our lives to Him and receiving from Him His guidance. 

Before Jesus launched into ministry He prepared himself in prayer.  He regularly asked His disciples to do the same.  "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”" Mark 6:31

For me, hunting is just an excuse to have some quality and quantity time with God.  Jesus went into the desert for forty days and nights to be alone with God and to challenge himself.  What a difference our lives would be if we had one goal:  I want to walk through the day with God.  I’m convicted that I don’t need to wait for hunting season to come to secure my quiet time with God.

The person of Jesus is the quiet resting-place of his people, and when we draw near to him in the breaking of the bread, in the hearing of the word, the searching of the Scriptures, prayer, or praise, we find any form of approach to him to be the return of peace to our spirits.

Blessings Jim Grassi