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Thursday, July 8, 2021

My Place of Quiet Retreat


Always, wherever we are … 

our place of quiet retreat,

with us.


Not limited to time or place;

Your Word, Your Presence.



Where do we go for rest, for refreshment, and renewal? The photo above was taken at one such place we've been at many times, with beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park in view. And ocean view, or lake view are also favorite places of ours. 


But what is an everyday place, within reach at all times? Where we can go on a daily basis to be renewed in our spirit, to find the rest that we long for and that we were made for?


"Cause my heart to bow before Your words of wisdom and not to the wealth of this world. Help me turn my eyes away from illusions so that I pursue only that which is true; drench my soul with life as I walk in Your paths." (Psalm 119:36-37)


"Reassure me of Your promises, for I am Your beloved, Your servant who bows before You." (Psalm 119:38)


"May Your tender love overwhelm me, O Lord, for You are my Savior and You keep Your promises." (Psalm 119:41)


"My passion and delight is in Your Word, for I love what You say to me! I long for more revelation of Your truth, for I love the light of Your Word as I meditate on Your decrees." (Psalm 119:47-48)


I am finding in even deeper ways than before, that it is most important, above all else, to fill our minds and hearts with truth, to “be truth-filled”, as author Ruth Chou Simons describes this. For with each passing year, there is even more noise, and more voices in our culture and world that attempt to draw us away from what is most important.


Let us fill our minds and hearts - our souls - with His Truth. Continually, day-by-day, through each day. Listening deeply to His heart as we read His words, depending on His Spirit to give understanding. Letting Truth soak deeply into the soil of our hearts, so that we will bear beautiful, lasting fruit.


This is how we are renewed in our deepest places, and this is the center, or “the bullseye” (in author Christy Nockel’s description) from which all else flows.


Above all else,

guard your heart,

for everything you do

flows from it.

(Proverbs 4:23)



Verses from Psalms in this post are from The Passion Translation.