“From this time on there was to be no rest for him. Always he was to be under the scrutiny of hostile and critical eyes. The opposition had crystallized and there was but one end. Jesus knew this and before he met the opposition he withdrew to pray. The love in the eyes of God compensated him for the hostility in people’s eyes. God’s approval nerved him to meet human criticism. He drew strength for the battle of life from the peace of God—and it is enough for his disciples that they should be as their Lord.” (William Barclay)

“Popularity drove Jesus to prayer—not just once, but often. The Son of God had to hear the Father’s voice and determine where the Father was at work. Jesus did not follow the rule of demand and supply. Had he done so, he would have stayed in one place his entire ministry. Always people came to him. Jesus went where prayer led, not where people led. God knew where power needed to be revealed. The revealing Son went where his Power Source directed. Mobs of people were willing to be healed. Jesus had to find where healing led to kingdom growth.” (Holman New Testament Commentary)

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour – from violent people you save me.” (2 Samuel 22:3)

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:9-10)

“I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:1-2)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Mother Teresa: “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is a friend of silence. The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life. We need silence to be able to touch souls. The essential thing is not what we say, but what God says to us and through us.”

Gordon McDonald: “When my private world is in order, it will be because I am unafraid to be alone and quiet before Christ.”

1. Cultivate desire.
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Ps. 42:1-2)

2. Cultivate grace.
“I learned that I had to warm up, to accept the fact that for about fifteen minutes my mind would do everything it could to resist the solitude.” (McDonald)

3. Cultivate rhythm.
“And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” (Luke 5:16 KJV)