often withdrew lonely

If you were to be asked about the things Jesus often did while He lived among us as a supposedly ordinary human, you might answer "taught," "healed," or "led".  I doubt you would mention "withdrew".

And yet we're told in Luke 5:16 that Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.  Since Jesus is not only the perfect offering for our sins (Hebrews 10:14) but also the example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21), His custom of withdrawing often to lonely places to pray is meant to be our pattern as well.  I was recently introduced to this concept by my Pastor, Paul Joyal, at a men's retreat.  

Note that Jesus and we are to withdraw from the normal activities of life, whether it be action, conversation, or rumination.  We are to step aside in order to focus on The Presence of God.  

We're told that He did this often, and so should we.  Though Jesus did, on occasion, withdraw for an overnight stay, or longer, we're not told how long, but how often.  Though He sometimes withdrew geographically, He may also have withdrawn mentally or emotionally, for a short while, to turn to His Heavenly Father.  So can we, and should we, often.  

He went to lonely or desolate places, places where He was alone, sequestered from the converse and emotions of His situation, in order to find solace, encouragement, and direction from His Father.  We would do well to step away with God when we sense our mouths or our feelings getting the better of us.  

And He did this so that He could pray.  If The Son of God, Who possessed the most intimate communion with His Heavenly Father, needed to pray, then how much more you and I, who don't know how to pray.  But, thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit teaches us, and prompts us to pray, as did Jesus, as we join Him in withdrawing often to lonely places, in order to pray.