Counsels on Mental Health

Counsel #1 — Jesus Our Example

Picture: Counsel #1 — Jesus Our Example CMH 83.1

Jesus is our Example of spending time alone with God. (Sometimes we call alone time with God our devotional time, or our personal worship-of-God time.) No one’s life has ever been so crowded with work and responsibilities as was that of Jesus, yet He found time for communion with God.^[85] CMH 83.2

“So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” Luke 5:16 NKJV CMH 83.3

“In a life wholly devoted to the good of others, the Saviour found it necessary to withdraw from the thoroughfares of travel and from the throng that followed Him day after day. He must turn aside from a life of ceaseless activity and contact with human needs, to seek retirement and unbroken communion with His Father. As one with us, a sharer in our needs and weaknesses, He was wholly dependent upon God, and in the secret place of prayer He sought divine strength, that He might go forth braced for duty and trial. In a world of sin Jesus endured struggles and torture of soul. In communion with God He could unburden the sorrows that were crushing Him. Here He found comfort and joy.” Ellen White in Reflecting Christ, p. 118 CMH 83.4

Reflect: What kind of action plan can you put in place so “busyness” does not crowd out your alone time with God? CMH 83.5