HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD
“He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12
Upon the disciple’s return from their first mission, they recount to Jesus what happened and celebrate the great miracles that occurred. Jesus then tells his disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate [desert, solitary, wilderness] place and rest a while.” And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.” (Mark 6:30-32 ESV).
The word ‘rest’ used in that verse appears in the Bible to denote the following:
- to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor to recover and collect his strength
- to give rest, refresh, to give one’s self rest
- to keep quiet, calm, and patient expectation
Sometimes in life, it’s necessary to withdraw to a quiet place and remove your routine in order to find rest, gain strength, and be refreshed. Jesus understood this and even commanded it to His disciples in Mark 6; The Bible even tells us that He often “would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:16).
The goal is to create a space where you can “draw near to God” so that “He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8). It can be difficult at times to eliminate the distractions of daily life and seek God, but it is fundamentally crucial in the life of a Jesus follower. In His presence you’ll find healing from the past, rest for the present, and strength for the future.
This is why we’re hosting the Remnant Wilderness Retreat. It’s an opportunity for us to get away from everyday life for two nights and receive direction from God. I’d encourage you to join the expedition as we head to the Adirondack Mountains. It will be powerful, helpful, and refreshing. You can see all the details and register at: REMNANTMAN.COM/RETREAT
This year, commit to creating margin in your life. Set a time and choose a place where every day you can ‘come away’ and approach the throne of God. Quiet the noise, withdraw from the world, and seek solitude that you may hear from God.
