Each year, usually in the fall, I try to get away for a few days to a place where I can be completely alone.  I am fortunate to have a friend who built and owns a cabin in the woods and he lets me borrow it from time to time.  I have been spending time at this cabin for about a dozen years and it has almost become like an old friend.  Many life decisions have been made in this cabin and numerous intimate conversations with God have taken place.  The cabin is situated in the rolling hills of northern Pennsylvania.  It is a beautiful setting with a babbling creek just outside the front door that has been known to give up a decent sized fish from time to time. It is surrounded by woods and many differing kinds of wildlife roam unconcerned nearby.  I was there very recently when the colors of fall were on full display.  The reds, the yellows, the oranges, the browns and all of the other colors of nature were proclaiming the handiwork of God and were there for the onlooker’s enjoyment.

Now this cabin is very basic!  To begin with you have a hike of a little over three miles to get to the cabin.  It is a beautiful walk through the woods and you learn to pack light as you must carry all of your supplies for your stay to the cabin with you on this hike.  The cabin is heated by a large fireplace in the living area and small wood stoves in the bedrooms.  Cooking is done on a wood stove in the kitchen or on one of the few modern conveniences, a charcoal grill.  There is a generator which supplies enough electricity to power some lights inside the cabin and, most importantly, a coffee maker!  Cellular phone service and internet service are nowhere in sight!

While this might seem boring to some of you, I look forward to visiting this cabin at each and every opportunity I have.  One of the reasons I love to visit here is to spend some time alone with God away from all of the distractions of the world.  The Bible encourages the Christian to ponder and think about the things of God.  Philippians 4:8 tells us “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Most Christians have a daily devotional schedule and regularly study the Bible.  However, it is wonderful to truly get alone with God and spend time drawing closer to God.  Jesus routinely went out early to pray (Mark 1:35) and Psalm 46:10 says to “be still and know that I am God.”  There seems to be something special in being alone with God.

On this particular trip I took my favorite study Bible and I took a book that read through every couple of years.  The book was AW Tozer’s classic, “The Pursuit Of God.”  I am always amazed when I read this book how someone who died before I was born could write such relative words, words relative even in today’s society.  I spent much of my days walking in the woods, gathering and chopping wood for fires, enjoying the scenery and doing a little fishing.  I also spent time sitting in the woods, or on the front porch, or in front of the fireplace or at the table reading the book and studying the Word of God.

As I was reading “The Pursuit Of God” I was struck by the chapter on faith.  In the book, AW Tozer wrote this about faith; “Faith is not in itself a meritorious act; the merit is in the One toward Whom it is directed. Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting God into focus.”  Upon reading, and re-reading, that quote, I went to the book of Hebrews.  I went to chapter 11 and began reading the Faith Hall of Fame!  Of course, most of you know how it begins; “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I began to read the chapter and then I read each of the corresponding Bible Stories about Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sara.  As I read those passages of scripture my faith was strengthened and I was blessed and encouraged.  What heroes of faith!  I also thought about the many heroes of faith that I have known in my own life and I thought of the numerous times that Jesus Christ has rewarded my own faith in the past.  My faith was increased!

Eventually my quiet time came to an end and it was time to go back to reality.  I had a job to get back to and I must admit that I was beginning to miss human contact, my phone and the internet.  I did enjoy my respite of a few days away from society and civilization and the chance to recharge my spiritual batteries.  I was excited to get back to my life and I was even more focused on God and His Plan and Will for my life.

The last morning I was in the cabin I read this written by AW Tozer in “The Pursuit of God” and it touched me in a great way. “Jesus says ‘come unto me, and I will give you rest.’ The rest He offers is the rest of meekness, the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are and cease to pretend.  It will take some courage at first, but the needed grace will come as we learn that we are sharing this new and easy yoke with the strong Son of God Himself. He calls it ‘my yoke’ and He walks at one end, while we walk at the other.” To that I can simply say “amen” and as I turned to leave the cabin that morning, I simply looked over my shoulder and said, “goodbye old friend, I will be back again.”