I Had To Get Away

Life stays busy for most all of us, and when life is loud and full, it can be challenging to hear God’s voice unless we make a concerted effort. I’m looking at some very busy months ahead of me regarding my ministry of speaking to women. I’m so excited, but I am always so aware of two serious things –

1. I have nothing in myself that will help anyone!
2. God must teach me first before I go to speak.

Another problem is, if I keep my “normal” schedule, I don’t have time to study and pray like I need in order to prepare. As I prayed about the need, the Lord so graciously provided for me to go to a place nearby that I love. It’s a lake home, owned by a precious couple who have been kind enough to let us use it when it’s available. I’ve shared it with you before, and I have to say, aside from my own home, it’s truly become a precious place to me because of the sweet times I have had with the Lord here.

I arrived on Monday mid-morning. Shortly after arriving, I fixed a simple lunch and headed to the room where I love to sit and pray and study. Could it be any prettier?

Each day I would get up early, coffee in hand and head to this spot. First I spent time in prayer. Then I read the Scriptures. I journaled. I read more Scripture, and talked out loud to God about what I was reading. I would ask Him questions, turn to other passages, look up words to find their meaning, and scribble notes in my notebook.

God had already put a passage of Scripture on my heart, and I had been studying it prior to this week, but He allowed me to use the next four days to dig deeper and understand the passage. Oh, the sweet things He taught me! What precious truths I learned! Now I can meditate on it for a couple months when I will share it with a group for the first time. When I speak, my mind will go back to this week, to this quiet place where the Lord met with me and taught me so that I might teach others.

God doesn’t talk audibly to us, but His Spirit whispers to our hearts through His Word. I think about Elijah who heard God’s still, small voice, or Jacob and his night vision, or Abraham who had many conversations with God, and I don’t feel envious. God still speaks, but we are often too busy to listen Or perhaps it’s too noisy with distractions to hear His voice. Perhaps we all need occasional times to just get away with Him.

I’m thinking this is probably God’s greatest reason for allowing me to speak to women. I NEED these personal retreats where I just spend time with Him. I need to quiet my heart and pour over His Word, ask questions about what I read, and quickly write it down so I won’t forget.

Come to think of it, the “ladies’ meeting” has already started. It began at that window seat at the lake. So many precious things happened, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Jesus standing at the shore teaching.

Oh wait. He did.

Have you ever had a personal retreat? I’m challenging you to pray about it. Even one day away can make a huge difference in your spiritual life. Quiet and refresh your heart with some time away with the Lord.