As we continue our week-long series, answering the most important question, why should we spend time alone with God?

We're going to look today simply at the value of having time alone.

In a world where we're inundated with media, people, stress, and work from the moment

we wake up, God has a better beginning to every day in store for us if we'll follow him.

Welcome to the First 15 podcast.

Thank you. Welcome to the first 15 podcast. Our scripture for today comes from Luke chapter 5 verse 16.

Scripture says, Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Why is time alone with God so important? Why can't just going to church, a community group, or a Bible study, be enough?

Those of us who have grown up in church or have been going to church

for many years have been told that time spent alone with God is vital to our relationship

with Him. Many of us, however, were never given a reason why. And in order for us to consistently and effectively engage in this crucial

practice, we must understand why it is so important. Here's what we learn from Scripture about

having time alone with God. Scripture makes it abundantly clear that Jesus spent time alone with his heavenly father.

Luke 516 states, Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Mark 1.35 states, and rising very early in the morning while it was still dark,

he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Often in scripture, Jesus

withdrew from the crowd to pray. So the first reason to spend time alone with God is because Jesus did.

If Jesus needed time alone with His Heavenly Father, we can all be sure we need it even more.

Jesus walked in God's presence constantly. Jesus constantly responded to God's will

for his life. He is our perfect example. And even still, he needed time alone with God. We also see from

Jesus' example that time alone with God empowers us to carry out God's

purpose for our life. It was after withdrawing into the wilderness in Luke 4 that he began performing

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