Are you a Mountain Climber or a Beachcomber?

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray” (Luke 5:16).

The sun had fallen and my GPS decided to navigate my car over a mountain. After flying into Greenville, South Carolina, I was driving a rental car to Ringgold, Georgia to comfort a friend who lost her son.

Exhausted, I was on the last leg of the journey and found myself gripping the steering wheel around treacherous curves up the mountain, then down again. The fear rose up in me and I prayed, “Lord, please, help me stay on the road!”

I realized then, I am not a mountain person. It draws fear out in me. My quiet place of choice is always the beach.

Where do you go for solitude? To be at peace?

Are you a beachcomber or a mountain climber?

A few weeks ago when I spoke at a conference in Floresville, Texas, the road to the South Texas town was familiar. I knew it was a back way to the coast and the water was luring me. I wanted to keep driving but knew I couldn’t, so I prayed, “Lord, I desperately need the therapeutic salt air. I want to spend uninterrupted time with you as I admire one of your magnificent creations, the beach. I am desperate to hear the sea gulls, the waves pounding the shoreline. Will you provide a way for me to go?”

The next week, a close friend of mine invited me to share her condo at the beach for a few days. She too, was going for solitude with the Lord. There will be a “no talking” zone in the morning. It was an immediate answer to prayer. God heard my cry for an extended date with him.

God longs for his children to periodically expand our quiet time and make him the focus of our attention for hours; even days. Jesus, often withdrew to lonely places to have Father-Son talks.

A friend of mine just spent seven days on a prayer mountain in Seoul, South Korea. Yesterday, she was sharing about all the miracles and provision that God provided after she took that time with him. She begins every year this way.

He rewards the faith that desires to draw near to him.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Are you earnestly seeking him?

I have found that when God lures me to that quiet place for an extended visit, he has something important to say to me. In past years God has:

-Instructed me to attend seminary.

-Told me to quit my full-time job.

-Answered questions about a difficulty in my life.

This happened all because I made him a priority and intentionally sought him out.

Do you need an extended vacation with the Lord?

Do you long to eliminate all the distractions?

Then make a date with God at your favorite place to relax.

Whether you are a beachcomber or a mountain climber, he created it all, and will be waiting for you when you arrive.