What comes to your mind as you consider the question “What is a spiritual leader’s greatest need?”  As a leader you may be thinking you need more time to do all the tasks on your to-do list.  Leaders are doers by nature who want to see things happen and it can be difficult to not be doing something.  So we like to stay busy and make progress.  I’ve heard some pastors say “The devil doesn’t take time off from his work so why should we!”  The reality is that the devil is not to be our role model, Jesus is; so what can we learn from Jesus?

I think of the first chapter of Mark when the whole town is coming to Jesus and people were being healed and it was a great time for ministry.  What does Jesus do the next morning?  Verse 35 says, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.”  Everyone was looking for Jesus but He was in a secluded place.  The word secluded may also be translated as solitary, lonely, desolate, or wilderness.  As a leader Jesus realized the need for solitude!  Now I know that mothers of young children understand and desire the need for solitude but how many leaders understand their need to turn off the noise of the world and to be still and know that He is God?

Throughout the life of Jesus we see this practice of solitude, “After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone”  (Matthew 14:23).  It can be tempting to stay with the crowd, but your greatest need is to be with God.  This was a pattern in the life of Jesus.  “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray” (Luke 5:16).  How often do you slip away to a secluded place to pray?

You will find that the greatest threat to your ministry is – ministry!  Realize that your greatest need is to be with God.