Withdrawing to the Father

Two weeks ago I sat in the Wadi Qelt, the trail between Jericho and Jerusalem, part of the Judean wilderness in Israel.

Dave had just finished teaching about Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness and the temptations he faced there.

He ended by giving us his take-away point: Withdraw to the Father's presence so you can return on his agenda.

Then he told all fifty of us to find space alone where we too could withdraw and spend time with our Father.

It's one of my favorite moments of the whole trip when we get to do this. You have no other agenda than to just "be" with the Lord. It's amazing what you can hear when you're quiet in the desert, even if forty nine other people are somewhere nearby!

It was during that time that I sensed the Lord giving me instructions about the days, weeks and months ahead, calling me to more specific times of drawing away with him like this.

He gave me specifics about it, even giving me ideas of places I can withdraw to around our home in Czech (my friend Petr told me to get a chair and keep it in my car so I can stop at any time and withdraw to spend time in my Father's presence!).

So this week is my first extended time alone with him. But I'm not in the desert of Israel, or the forests and fields of Czech. Rather, I'm in Croatia.

Dave left on the ferry yesterday to begin his next trek to the States for meetings with the Global Youth Initiative lead team from around the world.

So I am here in Croatia, withdrawing to my Father's presence this week so that I can return on his agenda next week.

I am looking forward to this extended time of being in the Word, in prayer, and just with my dear Father.