As much as we don't like to admit it, our surroundings have an affect on us--for better or worse. With this in mind, it is interesting to note that Christ regularly withdrew into His creation, typically into nearby mountains, for the purpose of spending time alone in prayer with the Father. See, e.g., Luke 6:12 ("One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God"); Mark 6:46 ("After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray."); Matt. 14:23(a) ("After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.").
Christ certainly did not have to go into the wilderness in order to be alone with the Father. He could have simply withdrew into a back room and instructed His disciples that He did not want to be disturbed. Yet, this is not what Christ did. It should cause us to wonder, then, what it is about God's creation that caused Christ to withdraw there in order to seriously pursue the Father's will.
While it serves as the greatest conceivable canvas, the creation afforded Christ with more than mere aesthetics. There is something about the pure splendor and majesty--the wildness--of creation that affords mankind the opportunity to draw closer to God. Whether it is a cabin tucked in the blooming meadows of a mountainside, or a shoeless stroll across the cool sand of an enduring beach, or a hike through the delicate desert, this undisturbed tranquility provides us not with the opportunity to speak louder, but the privilege of listening more attentively.
I recognize that the practicality of the hustle and bustle of modern life is not always conducive to taking such trips into the wilderness to seek the face of God. Yet, even a half an hour at a nearby park, lake, or walking/hiking trail can do wonders. When we reach our boiling point from the demands of everyday life, spending time alone with God in His creation can do wonders for revitalizing us and giving us a renewed sense of purpose for our existence.
Simply stated, spending time in God's creation rejuvenates our spirit and soul unlike any other setting known to man.
Soli Deo Gloria
Christ certainly did not have to go into the wilderness in order to be alone with the Father. He could have simply withdrew into a back room and instructed His disciples that He did not want to be disturbed. Yet, this is not what Christ did. It should cause us to wonder, then, what it is about God's creation that caused Christ to withdraw there in order to seriously pursue the Father's will.
While it serves as the greatest conceivable canvas, the creation afforded Christ with more than mere aesthetics. There is something about the pure splendor and majesty--the wildness--of creation that affords mankind the opportunity to draw closer to God. Whether it is a cabin tucked in the blooming meadows of a mountainside, or a shoeless stroll across the cool sand of an enduring beach, or a hike through the delicate desert, this undisturbed tranquility provides us not with the opportunity to speak louder, but the privilege of listening more attentively.
I recognize that the practicality of the hustle and bustle of modern life is not always conducive to taking such trips into the wilderness to seek the face of God. Yet, even a half an hour at a nearby park, lake, or walking/hiking trail can do wonders. When we reach our boiling point from the demands of everyday life, spending time alone with God in His creation can do wonders for revitalizing us and giving us a renewed sense of purpose for our existence.
Simply stated, spending time in God's creation rejuvenates our spirit and soul unlike any other setting known to man.
Soli Deo Gloria
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