During His earthly life Jesus made it a habit to withdraw from the crowds to be alone with the Father.  Jesus’ mission was not to do His own will but the will of the Father who sent Him (John 6:38).  Doing the Father’s will requires time alone with the Father for direction and strength.   The focus of Jesus’ life was to stay perfectly attuned to His Father’s voice.  He was determined to live every moment in harmony with the Father’s will. “My food” Jesus said, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”  He knew that to fulfill this purpose would require long stretches of quiet time alone with God.  No matter how busy His schedule or how urgent the needs around Him were He still made time for solitude with the Father.

Jesus and the Father are One (John 10:30) yet Jesus felt this compelling need to seek out solitude.   If Jesus needed time alone with the Father to keep His earthly walk in tune with the Father is there any doubt that we need this same solitude in our lives so we can find the direction and strength to serve Him?  As your Extreme Missionary Adventure is winding down take time for solitude with the Father.  This solitude is not so that God can hear from you but so that you can hear from God and so He can strengthen you for the task ahead.