Alone

Matthew 13:1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

One of the most amazing things about the life and ministry of Jesus is that He took time for simple things. There is nothing really spiritual about sitting on a beach at the seacoast. Not much ministry happens when you get alone; not many lives are touched when you just hang out with friends. Yet, I believe that all of ministry needs these times; in fact, if we don't take these times we will dry up and become caught up in stuff that really has nothing lasting or significant about it.

If you follow this blog, you have read in the past how important I believe this principle is in living the Jesus walk. In fact, one of the key 5 points of the Jesus Walk is the necessity of taking time away. Ministry is difficult at best, and problems and disappointments are found at every turn. We tend to become isolated and start to believe that what we are doing is worthless. Please hear this; I am not writing to you as one who is telling you what you need. I am writing as one who has experienced firsthand the harsh realities of ministry and the deep disappointments which face us each day. However, I can also stand on the truth that “Joy comes in the morning.”

The question is how do we make it through the night so the joy can flow in the morning? I know that you can search hundreds of web sites and find instruction and places to go to renew and restore. Whole ministries are slated to that purpose. They see the importance and need of healthy, spirit-lead and spirit-filled people who don't rely upon self but know the inner peace that comes from knowing God. Seminars and conferences are offered to encourage and exhort to better ministry and better tools for doing ministry. Sometimes, however, all this becomes just so much more noise--one more thing to do and one more meeting to attend which just leads us down the same path to spiritual destruction. So what's the answer? Let me offer just one simple thing. Get alone.

Jesus did it--OFTEN. Time and time again Jesus took off for the inner place. He put aside the things of the day and got alone, sometimes at the seashore, or the mountain, or the garden. Regardless where it was, Jesus found time for solitude and inner reflection. And so should we. It's imperative that we get away, to reflect, to allow God to renew our souls. We need that; in fact, we crave that. We need food for our souls--things like a good book, a walk in the park, or even a movie with friends. We need to be alone from time to time.

SO here is the deal. These next two weeks I am going to be in Nicaragua. Most of what I am doing is listening. I am trying to hear God, to refresh my soul and to rest my mind from life. I will not be following the regular study of the Jesus Walk; instead I will be reflecting on what I am hearing and seeing. I invite you to journey with me wherever you are. Together we can reach new depths of love for God and discover new directions for our next great big adventure in ministry.

Blessings, Rip