Matthew 13:1 “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.”
Jim and I recently had the privilege of attending our first spiritual retreat. It took place in a beautiful 1910 home on Upper Nemahbin Lake in Wisconsin. This week-long retreat was designed for pastors and their wives to come away to a quiet place for prayer, study, meditation and rest. Jim has been in full-time ministry for thirty years and I have been by his side for twenty-six of those years . In all that time we have never gone somewhere for the sole purpose of spiritual renewal. Shame on us!
What would make a person think that they could effectively lead anyone without intentionally carving out extended periods of time to hear from the Lord? Daily quiet times with God are wonderful, but even then we have to keep an eye on the clock because of our schedules and all the responsibilities we have to tend to. Whether you’re a leader or not, we all must invest time to hear from God if we want to keep our spiritual lives from becoming stagnant.
During our stay in the Wisconsin woods we were encouraged to fast from all media: no cell phones, TVs, radios or newspapers to distract us. The well-stocked library held treasures just waiting to be discovered. Two books that God used to speak to me were “nice girls don’t change the world” by Lynne Hybels and “Wilderness Time: A Guide for Spiritual Retreat” by Emilie Griffin. I was also greatly inspired by my readings on the life of George Muller.
It was like medicine for the soul to walk out of the house and sit by the lake. Psalm 46:10 says: “Be still and know that I am God.” No wonder Satan smiles when we lead such busy lives. In a wonderful book titled “Celebration of Discipline”, Richard Foster says: “In contemporary society our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in “muchness” and “manyness,” he will rest satisfied.”
Jesus understood this; that’s why he often withdrew to lonely places.
While on our retreat I had the joy of discovering my own lonely place where I met with God. It was a small, one-room cabin built just off the main house where the woodshed once stood. It was beautifully furnished in a rustic, nature theme and had a large window that looked into the woods. As soon as I would turn the key and walk in the door I was enveloped with a peace that restored my soul. When I cranked the side windows open the only sounds I could hear were the gentle rustling of leaves and the sweet songs of a variety of birds. There was a tiny wood stove in the corner and the rustic desk was situated so that you could gaze out into the woods as you meditated or prayed. Hours passed like minutes when I experienced the presence of the Lord in that little cabin.
Our time spent by the lake in this lovely home helped us realize how important it is to unplug from the world so that we can better hear His still, small voice. We came home with a determination to find our own version of this little cabin where we could go once a week for undisturbed time with the Lord; a place of beauty and seclusion made available to those who are hungering to hear from God. We’re still looking and we know God has just the right place for us.
Jim and I weren’t aware of how much we needed rest for our souls until we actually experienced it. We made a vow never to let so much time pass again without intentionally finding quiet places to restore what our faced-paced society takes away from us.
How about you? When was the last time your soul was refreshed? Why don’t you leave your house and all it’s distractions and sit by the lake? You never know, you just may meet Jesus there.
Jeanne is a pastor’s wife, mother of two grown daughters and “Nana” to three grandchildren. She and her husband, Jim, have been married for 25 years and make their home in Niles, Michigan. Jeanne is a woman whose heart is truly “at home.” She is passionate about ministering to women and helping them realize their incredible worth to God and value in their homes and families.
