Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from Radical.net.

Luke chapter 5, verse 16, but he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

What a verse. Like right before this, the Bible says the report about Jesus was spreading

everywhere and great crowds were gathering to hear him and to be healed of their

infirmities. Then verse 16 says, but he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

This was what was most important to Jesus. More important than preaching the great crowds,

more important than even healing people of their diseases was getting alone with the Father.

He would love to withdraw to a desolate place, to place where nobody else was just to be with

the Father. And everything he was doing, preaching and healing was flowing from his intimacy

with the Father from these times alone with the Father. When I read Luke chapter 5, verse 16,

I'm reminded this is the most important thing in my life and in your life, with drawing to

places where we're alone with God the Father just to pray. I hope this podcast is an encouragement

for you. I know many people listen to it on the way, on the road, driving or walking or exercising

or well, any number of other circumstances, but I hope that there is in your day at some point

just concentrated time alone with the Father, even with no devices on, unless you're journaling.

That's what I do. So I guess I use the device in that way, but nothing that's distracting you,

just you and God, his word and prayer, his spirit speaking to you, you would withdraw to desolate

places. And even as I say that, I know that's such a challenge. One, in just a busy world. And two,

I think about moms and dads in homes where kids are up at all hours of the night or early in the

morning, like finding quiet time alone is really hard. And to the extent with which it's possible,

I encourage you to fight to find that time and to the extent with which other people in the home

can help you find that time to help guard time alone with God, but to trust that even when it's not

...