On this page you will find suggestions for planning and experiencing time alone with God. This page will not only help you plan, it will offer suggestions on length, place, activities, expectations, the use of technology, a fill guide, and links to resources. You will also find stories from SEND members about poignant times alone with God from their lives¹⁾ .

Prayer and time in God’s Word every day are key to a thriving faith. It’s imperative for our sustenance, our growth, and our relationship with God. Relationships take intentionality and need time spent getting to know one another. Just as we daily need to spend time with those relationships that are most important to us, there are also times where we plan extra time to be with them. For example: I text or call my best friend nearly every day. But sometimes, we plan for a meal together, game night, special event or outing when we can be more relaxed, less distracted, and can deepen our trust and connection. Even better are the longer periods of time that we can enjoy being together for the entire day or a weekend! Like our earthly relationships, both our shorter and longer times spent with God helps us to know him better. Our daily devotions, prayer and Scripture meditation are enhanced by the extra, unhurried periods that we spend alone with God, and vice versa¹ .

In this blog post by Eurasia Regional Director Dave Brubacher, he highlights how times of intentional solitude with God can help our hearts be realigned with our Heavenly Father’s.

Hear how others in SEND have experienced the importance of extended time alone with God in their lives in this 8-minute video!²

Prayer is the first thing to do when planning your time alone with God. Ask God to lead your expectations, ideas, and plans for your time.

Extended time to be alone with God does not generally happen without planning. It is important to be intentional about setting aside a large block of time whether it is 3 hours or an entire weekend. An entire day is ideal, but it’s not always possible. It is better to schedule half a day than skip the idea entirely just because you don’t have an entire 8 hours. The goal is to make these extended times with God a regular part of your spiritual rhythms. If you are able to set a recurring time monthly or quarterly, this would be fantastic!¹

Choosing where to be alone with God is up to you. This is a very individual preference.Some prefer to go to a quiet place without anyone else around. Others can focus on their time with God better in a coffee shop or on a public hiking trail. Pick a place that resonates with what you need for that time or pick several locations that are near each other! The key is not to be interacting with others during this time, so avoid places where it is highly likely that people will want to engage with you.¹

Most time spent alone with God will include times of prayer, Scripture meditation, worship, and reflection. Consider allocating time for both speaking to God and listening to God. Time in the Bible could be varied, ranging from thinking about one verse to reading an entire book of the Bible. Worship can involve prayer, music, poetry and movement. These are all ways we can express our joyful gratitude for who God is, and what he has done, is doing, and will do. Our outpouring of thankfulness, reverence and love honours our relationship with him. Reflection on who God is, who we are, and what he is communicating to us is an important part of our focused time with God. How we spend our time in reflection can mirror our uniqueness. If you are a verbal processor, you may want to discuss your experience with someone else at a later time. If journaling is how you process, jot down what you are experiencing or use thought-provoking prompts to guide your written reflections. If you are an internal processor, take the time necessary to dig deeper into the thoughts and emotions filling your heart and mind¹ .

There are many other things that can be included in time alone with God besides the key elements. Some choose to fast. Others spend some time doing an activity such as exercise or art. This is an opportunity to be creative while spending time alone with God. If drawing, watercolour, or photography are ways you feel closer to God, do that for part of your time. Bring along a portable instrument to compose or play worshipful music. Engage with God utilizing as many of your senses as is helpful. For more ideas, consider taking a spiritual pathways assessment to see what might be a good fit for you.¹

• 3-hour schedule²⁾
• 8-hour schedule²

Most people avoid technology while spending dedicated time alone with God. Although you may not be actively engaging with others (call, text, socials) or working during this time (email, Teams, etc), it may be beneficial to think through how you may want or need to utilize your phone or computer during that time.¹

• Basic Plan for Time Alone with God²
• Detailed Plan for Time Alone with God²
• Full Guide for Spending Time Alone with God ²

Download a pdf with a list of recommended resources for spiritual formation.

Apps and Websites

• Blue Letter Bible
• Bible (YouVersion)
• Bible Gateway
• E-sword LT
• Pray as you Go
• Dwell: Audio Bible
• PrayerMate
• Remember Me. Bible Memory Joy
• Bible Project
• Lectio 365: Daily Bible Prayer
• Day One
• My SOAP Journal
• Prayercast

Books

• Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton
• Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
• Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
• A Guide to Prayer for All Who Walk With God by Rueben Job
• Hearing God by Dallas Willard
• Every Moment Holy by Douglas McKelvey
• Let Go by Francois Fenelon
• Edges of His Ways by Amy Carmichael
• A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller
• Lead with Prayer by Ryan Skoog, Peter Greer and Cameron Doolittle

• by: Jenny Baker, Alphonse Mosse, and Kimberly Samalca
• on: December 15, 2025