Dedicate Some Time Regularly For These Private Activities 

Mark 9:30-31 (NIV) – 30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”

When a musician makes a wonderful unforgettable presentation, what we don’t see are the many hours of private preparation. When a sportsman excels in a sport, what we hardly see are the private hours in training. When soldiers move swiftly and march in an orderly manner, we rarely remember that there have been many hours of tough training in private. For an excellent life, private moments are indispensable. Dedicate some time regularly for private activities!

The book of Mark that we have just read, tells us that Jesus had a moment when He did not want public engagement. Jesus wanted to have private time with disciples. Jesus avoided the crowds. Jesus kept off members of the public. Jesus wanted some private with the disciples.

Mark 9:30-31 (NIV) – 30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. JESUS DID NOT WANT ANYONE TO KNOW WHERE THEY WERE, 31 BECAUSE HE WAS TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES…”

Jesus wanted privacy in order to teach. Excellent preachers are taught privately, in a class, in a school, in a library. What disciples  later on preached confidently was learnt during those regular private moments. Without those private moments, the disciples would have nothing to preach. An excellent ministry is prepared privately and presented publicly. 

Many of those who minister today unfortunately lack private preparation. They minister in ways that do not satisfy those they serve and deep within them they know they underperformed. The key reason behind it is that they lack private preparation. Many minister in embarrassing ways because of lack of preparation. Jesus took the disciples out privately in order to teach them!

All of us who minister in various ways would do well if we enhanced the private preparations and made it effective. We need more time in private than the public life we crave. For an excellent life, private moments are indispensable. Dedicate some time regularly for private activities!

Matthew 20:17 (NIV) – Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. ON THE WAY, HE TOOK THE TWELVE ASIDE and said to them,

Mark 6:30-31 (NIV) – 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 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.”

Luke 9:10 (NIV) – When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. THEN HE TOOK THEM WITH HIM AND THEY WITHDREW BY THEMSELVES to a town called Bethsaida,

The passages cited above from the Bible are clear evidence that Jesus had the habit of going private with His disciples. He would go private to teach. He would go private to inform and explain what is coming – sort of private planning. He would go private to seek rest and rejuvenation. Life requires the regular retreat to your private space. For an excellent life, private moments are indispensable. Dedicate some time regularly for private activities!

Matthew 26:36-39 (NIV) – 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “SIT HERE WHILE I GO OVER THERE AND PRAY.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. STAY HERE and keep watch with me.” 39 GOING A LITTLE FURTHER, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Mark 1:35 (NIV) – Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to A SOLITARY PLACE, WHERE HE PRAYED.

Luke 6:12-13 (NIV) – 12 One of those days JESUS WENT OUT TO A MOUNTAINSIDE TO PRAY, AND SPENT THE NIGHT PRAYING to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

The Bible also records that Jesus spent time praying privately. Private prayer time is the privacy we all need. Before any major assignment, Jesus retreated to a private place to pray. Even when He called the prayer band of disciples to pray at Gethsemane, He still went further into privacy to pray. In privacy of prayer, we are prepared for battles and subsequent victories. For an excellent life, private moments are indispensable. Dedicate some time regularly for private activities!

Matthew 6:3-4 (NIV) – 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Giving to the needy is noble and only brings a blessing if it is a private activity. God blesses the giver if he or she gives to the poor as a private activity. Make it private!

Matthew 6:6 (NIV) – But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Our prayer life should be completely private, except when we are in group worship or public worship. God quickly rewards prayers that are done in secret. There is a genuineness that comes with secret prayer because there is no one to impress and God is the only audience. For a healthy spiritual life pray frequently and regularly in private.

Matthew 6:17-18 (NIV) – 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

There are times when it is necessary to fast. The fast should be as private as possible. Absolutely nobody should ever know that you are fasting. This kind of fast will attract blessings from God.

Plants have unseen roots. Buildings have unseen foundations. Those who excel around us have a life that is private where they do all the planning and preparation. Best products come from factory processes that we do not see. Private preparations will make a difference in your life. For an excellent life, private moments are indispensable. Dedicate some time regularly for private activities!

Avoid living your life publicly on social media. Avoid the urge to update everyone on everything. May God save us from over explaining. Sieve what goes to your social media. Sieve what you share. May the blessings of doing things privately give you visibility and victory.

May our private moments draw us closer to God. May our private moments enhance our relationships with each other. May our private activities yield outstanding success and victory. May we dedicate daily time to private activities that will yield results. May God help us to build strength privately, in Jesus name, Amen!

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