Mark 1:35-39 English Standard Version

35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Jesus spends quiet time alone with the Father here. To understand His purpose behind quiet time we look to verse 38.

How did Jesus know where to go and what to do? When He declares “this is why I came out”, do they understand exactly what He meant by saying He came out?

Matthew 6:6 English Standard Version (ESV) But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Stop thinking of reward as getting something you desire. For Jesus this great reward in coming to the Father in secret was to know in intimate detail the Father’s will, in where and what Jesus should do that day. 

Is there any greater reward than to be shown by God the Father why we were born, and the purpose for our life? We think in terms of things, God thinks in terms of souls.

John 15:15-17 English Standard Version

15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Note the change in relationship. Now we are not told what to do but rather what He is doing. What has Father God asked of us? Our Lord says love one another.