Alone Time with God is Vital to our Spiritual Health

We’ve all experienced some measure of sleep deprivation, and we know how bad we can feel the following day. That’s because sleep is vital to our physical and mental health. God created us with a need for these hours of rest every day. While we sleep, so much is happening to keep our body functioning properly.

God also created us with a need for similar periods to maintain our spiritual health. I’m not talking about conversing with him while driving in traffic, or worshiping with other believers, or attending a Bible study. Those are all excellent activities, but I’m referring to intentional time spent alone with him. One-on-one time without distractions. Time when he has our undivided attention, when he can speak to us through his Word and effect changes in our heart.

Even Jesus needed these regular times alone with his Father (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12). Luke tells us, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16).

We can get an idea of how important this is for us if we compare what goes on during physical sleep to what takes place during our times alone with God.

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During sleep, our brain sorts and processes all the information we’ve picked up during the day and files it away for future use. Without proper sleep, we have difficulty remembering things later. [1, 3]

While we spend time with God, we have the opportunity to process our day. Charles Spurgeon said, “Meditation chews the cud and extracts the real nutriment from the mental food gathered elsewhere.” [5] God helps us sort and file information in the proper places—some in storage, some in the trash. Many ideas only clutter our thinking and some are even harmful to dwell on. But he will show us what to keep. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

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During sleep, production of growth hormone is increased to help our body grow and repair itself. [1]

While we spend time with God, he teaches us through his Word, helping us to mature spiritually. He also corrects our faulty thinking, habits, and attitudes. “¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

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During sleep, our immune system releases cytokines that help the body fight infection and inflammation. Not having enough cytokines makes us susceptible to germs. We need even more during illness or high stress. [1, 4]

While we spend time with God, our faith in him increases (Romans 10:17). Faith is the shield we use to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). Without regular time with God, we are more likely to allow things into our lives that are harmful to our spirit. During periods of greater stress, we need to spend even more time in God’s presence.

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During sleep, our brain removes toxic byproducts that have accumulated throughout the day so it can function well the next day. [4]

While we spend time with God, he will deal with our sins. He may convict us of something we’ve said or done that hasn’t pleased him. He may reveal a particular attitude we need to repent of. Then we can confess those sins “so that [our] sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

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During sleep, our body regulates hormones that affect our appetite. Ghrelin tells us when our stomach is empty and we need to eat; leptin increases our feeling of fullness after we eat. Inadequate sleep increases ghrelin and suppresses leptin, making us feel hungrier. We eat more than our body needs, leading to various physical problems. [4]

While we spend time with God, he will align our desires with his. We will hunger and thirst for more of his righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Our appetite for activities that hinder our spiritual growth will fade away. “¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path” (Psalm 119:103-104).

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During sleep, cortisol, the stress hormone, decreases, and in deep sleep our pulse and blood pressure lower to give the heart and blood vessels a chance to rest. Our energy is replenished so we wake up refreshed the next day. [2, 4]

While we spend time with God, we can enjoy peaceful respite from the stress of the day—especially from being on constant alert against our enemy who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). After the apostles had been ministering for some time, Jesus addressed their need for rest with him. “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). God will fill us anew with his Holy Spirit, preparing us to return to the world with replenished energy and desire.

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Have you been feeling under the weather spiritually?  Do you exhibit any of the following symptoms?

• a cluttered mind and/or unhealthy thoughts
• a stale relationship with God
• feeling defenseless against the attacks of the enemy
• burdened by unconfessed sin
• stronger desires for things of this world than for pleasing Jesus
• weariness of life instead of excitement for living

If you do, then you may be in need of some alone time with God.

It isn’t a one-time solution. Like sleep, it is an on-going necessity. And just as we need to discipline ourselves to acquire the proper sleep, spending regular time with God requires discipline as well. However, if we do it, we will experience the spiritual life we were meant to live—one in which we function well with our Creator and are prepared for the good works he has ready for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Scripture quotations are from NIV.

Feature photo by rawpixel.com by Freepik

[1] “7 amazing things that happen to your body while you sleep”

[2] “What Happens When You Sleep?”

[3] “The Science of Sleep: Understanding What Happens When You Sleep”

[4] “What Is the Purpose of Sleep?”

[5] From Morning by Morning Devotional Journal, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.