Every week or so, I feel a strong tug on my heart, a prompting from the Lord, to COME and GET AWAY with Him for awhile. I may be dropping my kids off at school in the morning (it may have taken 14 years, but we are finally out of the baby/toddler/preschool stage!), and I hear His voice, quietly beckoning me to come on a walk with Him.
So I do! I grab my journal and Bible (and camera!)—sometimes even buy a nice cup of coffee for the time—and I drive to a nearby park called Fox Run. It is a beautiful place here in Colorado to just go and be. Often I go early enough that it is just me and God.
I park the car and begin to pray over the time. Then I jump out and start to walk the trails. All the while, I am praying and praising—noticing everything around me. I notice the turtle that bobs its head up above the water. I notice the fallen acorn on the path. I notice the color of the leaves and the markings (likely from deer and elk) on the trees. I notice the sounds of the mama birds, as they tend to their babies. And I watch the playful swoop of the falcon flying overhead, looking for a bite to eat. I notice the sound of the rushing water. And I begin to FEEL myself unwind.
All the pressure and strain from the days and the worries that had been so prevalent only moments before begin to fall away. It’s like the song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus… “and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” He calls us all out (and I believe that part of being called out is to physically GO OUTSIDE), to be with Him. Aside from all the wonderful health benefits of walking and sunshine, there is a soul need that every mother has to be outside with our Savior….alone with Him.
After I have spent a goodly time warming up my muscles in exercise, I find a place to stop and begin to dig through the scriptures. I often read aloud. Oh magnify the Lord. The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower, the righteous run to Him and are safe. Be still and know that I am God. Let everything that has breath, Praise the LORD! Often I go through my Bible with no agenda. I just read wherever I land. Sometimes I read through an entire book or chapter…sometimes I focus in on ONE power-packed verse. Every time, it is God’s direct Word on the page spoken to my heart.
As I read, I communicate with Him. I draw out a particular word and say, YES, Lord, I needed that reminder that you are with me. You are for me. You love me. You care for me. You SEE me. You hear me.
I then begin to write whatever prompts I have from that time. I write what I hear Him say to me in His Word and what I feel He is saying to me through the time walking and savoring His Presence. I write what I fear. I write what I know. Then finally, I lay it all out at His feet and say, “I TRUST you, LORD.”
Finally, I sit in silence a few moments longer and listen. I still everything that clamors. And I listen. Sometimes I hear only silence. But it is a silence that creeps deep into my soul and my spirit feels His peace.
When I arise, I continue to think on what He spoke. For He ALWAYS speaks….even in a whisper. I walk and capture the pictures of beauty all around me—Colorado is an easy place to find raw beauty. As I drive home, I ready myself for the day ahead. I notice that ONE hour of time that morning changed everything—my thoughts, emotions, strain and even fears.
No matter what stage of life you find yourself, GET OUTDOORS and say YES to God’s daily invitation for you to come apart with Him for awhile. Be it five minutes or a few hours. Say Yes and be BLESSED.
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