Do you ever need to get away?

Last week, Pastor Darren, Pastor Yasu, and I were able to attend the pastors’ retreat.  I was fortunate not to be sick like Pastor Darren was.  For me, it was good to have a change of pace.  Even though our days were full of activity and most of my free time was spent on sermon prep or other ministry things, it was refreshing to be in a different environment and enjoy the creation around us.  I enjoyed a couple of walks in the mountains.  At one point, close to dusk, I looked up in the sky and saw through the tree branches a most beautiful sky.  I couldn’t help but pause and praise the Lord!  

Jesus used to get away from the crowds and spend time with his Heavenly Father.  For example, in Mark 1:35, it says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”  We can imagine how this time with God was so refreshing and encouraging to Jesus.

Do you ever need to get away?  Do you ever set aside extra time to be with the Lord?  I encourage you to see that time with the Lord as special and make time for it.  Even in our busy lives, we need to make time to be with the Lord.  Perhaps you could get away to a retreat center someday.  (I have some recommendations for you if you’d like to try this.)  Or maybe it’s to take a walk or a hike in the woods.  Or maybe meditating on a favorite passage of Scripture or listening to your favorite worship music for a while would be refreshing to you.

We know the value of a vacation and we spend a lot of time and money on them.  That’s good, but that special time with the Lord might be even more important.  It is during those times that the spirit is refreshed by the Holy Spirit.

God bless,
Pastor Kory