Summer Sabbatical Part II

Tears are a funny thing; they visit in both joy and sorrow, falling from gratitude and grief alike. Flowing from reverence just as easily as repentance, they signaled the start of my summer sabbatical. 

As those initial tears paved the way for deeper contemplation, I was overcome with thanksgiving as I looked back and reflected over the years. This intentional pause allowed me to clearly see the threads of divine timing in my story, and the present brought rejoicing as I pondered God's goodness. It was a time of transition from the end of something and the beginning of another season - a vivid reminder found in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the heaven."

To truly immerse myself in this shift, I gravitated toward nature in a posture of meditation. Nature is the original sanctuary where we discover God not just as the Creator, but as the Master Designer. Looking at the majestic structure of the trees, the vibrant canvas of colors on the flowers, and the powerful, rushing torrent of a waterfall all speak of a marvelous God—One who is deeply concerned with the details of His handiwork and our lives.

"Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and waves have rolled over me." — Psalm 42: 7 (KJV)

While opening my eyes to the world around me brought immediate clarity, capturing that same stillness within my own thoughts proved to be a much slower journey. I will admit it took several weeks to truly find that quiet place again. A mind consumed with noise, distractions, and worldly attractions is not easily settled into solitude with the Father. Yet, being intentional about surrendering my schedule to spend time in His presence was a deeply worthy and rewarding endeavor.

Prayer is an important spiritual discipline in the life of a believer and the entryway into personal revival. There are many types and postures of prayers, however, it is more than simply presenting a list of requests and petitions to God; true prayer is a two-way dialogue. We serve a God who not only sees, but One who hears and speaks. As we fine-tune our listening, we realize that the Holy Spirit is constantly speaking throughout the day in a variety of ways. Once I cultivated that internal silence, the barriers dissolved, and the joy of hearing Him clearly was immeasurable. While God speaks first and foremost through His written Word, a still, small voice, internal impressions, sudden promptings, and a deep sense of reassurance and peace are a few other ways He communicates. Sometimes He spoke during listening prayer, however, it was often in the quiet moments just before dawn—and even while driving in the car. At the Master's feet, I received understanding.

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding."— Proverbs 4:7 (KJV)

This gift of divine understanding completely changed how I looked at the world around me. When God strips away the busyness and distractions—like the constant scrolling on our phones—we begin to truly observe people again. We start to see them as God sees them. He then fills us with His love and compassion, aligning our actions directly with His heart.

With this newfound clarity came a deep responsibility to share the wisdom gleaned in those quiet moments of listening. The first thing He said was, "Come back to Me." The repetitive cycle of wandering away from God constantly plagued Israel in the Old Testament. As Hosea 11:7 describes, God’s people were "bent on turning away" from Him. Have self-reliance, cultural compromise, and modern-day idols—such as the worship of celebrity, intellect, economic systems, political power, and religious structures—so consumed our attention that we, too, have strayed from the true and living God? Amos 8:12 warns that when we replace God with these cultural substitutes, we end up "wandering from sea to sea" in a desperate, unsatisfied search for truth. This urgent call to return requires more than just a passing thought; it demands a focused, deliberate pursuit of His heart.

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." — James 4:8 (CSB)

This deliberate pursuit begins by confronting our competing devotions. In listening prayer time, God also said, "Seek Me, seek Me." Yet, what things have we sought after in place of God: success, wealth, education, titles, political ideology, entertainment, technology, or material possessions? In pursuing these, we often commit the ancient error described in Jeremiah 2:13, forsaking the "fountain of living waters" for "broken cisterns that can hold no water." God longs to be the supreme object of our pursuit, reminding us in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" so that all other things may be added to us. A half-hearted or casual approach is insufficient when seeking the Almighty. We seek Him not just for relief from trials or for His blessings, but for an intimate relationship—to experience His presence, communion, and guidance. He wants our undivided hearts and our life choices to align with His revealed will.

"And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."— Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJB)

However, deciding to walk in obedience to His will does not mean the path will be trouble-free; rather it introduces a new spiritual battlefield. Aligning your life with His will initiates a profound transformation, but setting your heart on this path will inevitably spark resistance from the spiritual realm. The devil, the adversary of our souls, does not want us to experience the consummation of that closeness with the Father. As 1 Peter 1:8 warns, this adversary "prowls around looking for someone to devour" - seeking to strip our faith away, separate us through sin, and invade our lives with distractions and diversions. Therefore, as you seek Him and return to Him, expect spiritual warfare. God, however, will prove Himself faithful and teach you how to defeat the strategies and "schemes" of the enemy. Learning to discern God's voice from your own thoughts and the enemy's whispers is crucial in this fight. As taught in Ephesians 6:16-17, the Holy Spirit will shield our minds and hearts from "fiery darts" through faith, teaching us to push back using the Word of God as our sword. Standing firm in this victorious truth allows us to endure and win the battles.

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."— 1 John 4:4 (NIV)

I’ll be honest: this summer sabbatical wasn't exactly a smooth, mountain-top experience where everything felt perfect. While there was great joy on this journey with a new battle song, there were also days of intense wailing. God was doing some deep soul care. Like a vehicle lifted up on an automotive hoist so the Mechanic can perform serious repair work on the undercarriage, He was mending hidden damage from past road conditions, correcting misalignments, and scraping away spiritual rust. God had to directly address some of my most foundational and faulty belief systems as well.

This divine maintenance and prevention time was a structural reinforcement for a new load. Looking in the mirror at myself wasn't always easy, but the Holy Spirit brought it about gently. Because I trust Him, I was able to rest and cooperate fully—even when it hurt. It perfectly reflects the truth of Hebrews 12:11: “And all discipline indeed for the present does not seem to be of joy, but of grief; but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those having been trained by it."

My summer sabbatical was a powerful time of recalibration. It allowed me to implement the spiritual disciplines that draw me closer to God: repentance, prayer, active listening, Bible Study, praise, gratitude, obedience, Spirit-led fasting, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit and worship. Admittedly, practicing all of these may seem like a lot to carry. Yet, when we step directly into God's presence, the weight vanishes - what feels difficult in our strength becomes beautifully easy when led by the Spirit.

Serving is also a vital spiritual discipline, but the LORD asked me to step away from my usual roles this summer. Even so, He fulfilled my desire to serve by divinely orchestrating encounters where I could simply show His kindness. Yielding our heart to the Father allows us to be the exact answer to someone else's need. I learned a profound lesson: our service and giving to God don't always need to be in the spotlight. Ultimately, demonstrating God's love in our daily lives triumphs over anything else we could do.

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."— Philippians 2:4 (BSB)

It is impossible to distill the rich spiritual insights of this summer sabbatical into a single blog post; I will share them as the Holy Spirit guides. God is a wonder to me. He continually amazes me with His loving-kindness and protection. He is a good Father, a wonderful Savior, and a trusted Friend - the One who pours into us, restores us, and fills us anew.

My prayer for you—whether you are a new believer, mid-stream in your walk, or a seasoned saint—is that you will embrace your own rhythm of a sabbatical. God desires to refresh and refuel you as you linger in His presence and establish spiritual disciplines that keep you firmly connected to Him. We will certainly need this solid foundation for the future. As we navigate new seasons of life, leaning into His voice and presence is imperative for our ongoing journey as disciples.

"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow Me." — John 10:27

Are you ready to take that step? I challenge you to set aside time after reading the Bible or praying to sit in absolute silence at the feet of the LORD. No requests, no speaking—just listening. Then, do it again. And again, with the expectation that the One you are seeking will respond.

Fix your eyes on the One who works wonders. All glory be to God for His extravagant love, mercy, and grace. Amen.