What people actually do on a sabbatical is as varied as the people themselves. As promised, I will share our story, but what I did may not be best for you. We are all different. We face different circumstances. We have different personality types, and we differ as to which needs we most keenly feel. Therefore, I will make every effort to shine the light on the principles behind my personal practices.
The over-all guiding principle is: DO WHATEVER REFRESHES YOU while on sabbatical. However, what refreshes will differ from person to person. My wife finds social situations energizing. She is an encourager and being with people recharges her batteries. I also love being with friends and I enjoy blessing and encouraging people. However, I often find parties and lengthy social interactions draining. I long for peace and quiet, so I tend to recharge best in solitude.
Empty tanks
A number of authors agree we all have four areas of life that become depleted “ . . . if we don’t take the time to rejuvenate and refuel ourselves.” [1] The four specific areas are our SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, and MENTAL reservoirs. In my case, the first three of these tanks were very NEARLY EMPTY. I was on the verge of complete exhaustion and burnout. In this post, I will concentrate on what I did to refill my SPIRITUAL tank.
Spending time FOR God or spending time WITH God
On top of the pressing time demands of life, it is possible to be so busy working FOR God that we find little time to simply BE WITH God. Frequently, this is a big issue for pastors. For many decades, early-morning devotions have been my practice. However, I was recently convicted by the Holy Spirit that I had not done so well in developing and deepening my friendship and personal relationship with the Lord. Therefore, in addition to prayer and Bible reading, I knew I needed to create margin so I could invest significant time in worship, waiting on God, and listening for God’s voice. While caring for my mother in our home, solitude of any length was very hard to come by, so I was in desperate need of spiritual refreshment and renewal.
Voice hunting vs. God hunting
One of my most-hoped-for original goals for the sabbatical was to hear a fresh, specific word of direction from the Lord. However, there is a danger in approaching your sabbatical with a set agenda. Priscilla Shirer warns about “voice hunting more than God hunting.” She confesses, “I’ve been guilty of seeking God’s direction and blessing more than I seek Him.” [2] Shirer explains, “When knowing God is our chief priority, He will reveal truths about Himself—His personality and His plans—that will point us toward the path we should take . . . His chosen path not only becomes clearer to us, it also becomes the only path we truly want.” [3]
In a similar way, Ruth Haley Barton warns, “ . . . resist the urge to think too hard, work too hard, or in any other way try to force God’s hand. Instead, enter more deeply into a posture of trust . . . what is most needed will be given in God’s way and in God’s time.” Barton advises, “Start letting go of your attempts to make something happen, loosening your grip on your own agenda and allowing the inner chaos to settle so eventually you can hear and receive at God’s initiative.” [4] Robert Morris confirms Shirer and Barton’s perspective. “When we pursue God because we want to know Him, rather than to just get something from Him, we will also come to understand what He wants us to do. He wants us to treasure His presence more than His presents.” [5]
Therefore, the primary goal during my sabbatical shifted to building a closer, more personal relationship and friendship with the Lord instead of simply listening and looking for a word of direction from the Holy Spirit.
To hear God’s “specific voice,” listen daily for God’s “general voice”
Robert Morris says God reveals His general will through the Scriptures. However, He also believes God has a specific will regarding each of the important issues and key decisions we face.
If we just check in with God . . . whenever a big decision comes up, then we will miss out not only on knowing God’s general will but also on a close, everyday friendship with God. So, we must learn to value His voice, His general voice, on a regular basis if we want to hear His specific voice from time to time. If we’re not in the habit of meeting with Him and hearing from Him on a regular basis, then it will be much more difficult to hear a specific word from God.[6] (Emphasis added.)
My time alone with God
Morris goes on to share his personal devotional approach, which I adapted and found extremely beneficial during my sabbatical. As a result, I have recently entered into a fresh and renewed “quiet time” using the following practices.
- Set an appointment with God. This is a long-standing practice for me. I have met with the Lord for early-morning prayer and Bible reading most of my life. This practice was not new.
- Be still and worship. This one was new for me. Significant worship time was not part of my daily practice. Now, I typically put on a great album of worship music and responsively worship along with the music – especially when the song lyrics resonate with my heart or personal situation. While on sabbatical, I devoted an hour or more to prayerful worship and waiting on God.
- Read Scripture. Reading anywhere in the Scripture is fine. I usually follow a through-the Bible-in-a-year reading plan. The important thing with any reading plan, though, is to be sensitive to any prompting of the Spirit that illuminates a verse or brings a specific passage of Scripture to mind.
- Pray. I often find myself praying in the Spirit during my worship and prayer time. Whenever my prayer language bubbles up, I yield to the flow of the Holy Spirit. When the Lord brings a specific person or specific need to my mind, I pray accordingly. Sometimes I use the Lord’s Prayer as an outline. However, I do my best to always pray about the concerns and issues that fill my heart and mind on any given day.
- Listen and write. In the past, I have been sporadic and inconsistent in journaling. Therefore, this discipline is a new regular practice for me. I find it extremely valuable. It is a great way to capture and retain the impressions I receive from the “gentle whisper” of the Holy Spirit. I also share the same challenge as Bob Sorge. “If I don’t write it down, there’s a 99% chance that I’ll forget it. . . I must be a careful steward . . . by retaining it, meditating upon it, and considering how that truth must impact how I live.” [7]
Keeping my spiritual tank full in the real world
We returned from sabbatical, repacked our suitcases, and immediately headed out for the Network’s annual conference. Gone was the luxury of entire mornings spent in worship, prayer, listening, and reflection. We were back to work, responsibility, and ministry. We had returned to the real world. However, I also returned with renewed and sustainable devotional practices.
Now, I have a workable strategy for keeping my spiritual tank full. I have adapted and continue the primary practices outlined above. I am up every day by 5:00 or 5:30, but I need to be on the road by 7:00. Due to these time limitations, I sometimes listen to Scripture, pray, and worship while riding my exercise bike. I journal before getting in the car, or write for a few minutes after reaching the PMN office. My Honda CRV has become a sacred place where I worship while listening to praise music during my hour-and-a-half commute to the PMN office. Bottom line: I regularly feel the joy of the Lord, sense God’s sweet presence, and often hear the “gentle whisper” of His voice. I have not arrived, but being “well on your way” is the next best thing to being well.
Bibliography
Barton, Ruth Haley. Invitation to Retreat: The Gift and Necessity of Time Away with God. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Ill. 2018. Kindle edition.
Morris, Robert. Take the Day Off: Receiving God’s Gift of Rest. FaithWords Publishing, Nashville. 2019. Kindle edition.
Morris, Robert. Frequency: Tune In. Hear God. W Publishing Group, Nashville. 2016. Kindle edition.
Shirer, Priscilla. Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God is Speaking. Moody Publishers, Chicago. 2012. Kindle edition.
Sorge, Bob. Secrets of the Secret Place: Keys to Igniting Your Personal Time With God. Oasis House, Kansas City, MO. 2012. Kindle edition.
Footnotes
[1] Morris, Robert. Take the Day Off (p. 53). FaithWords. Kindle edition.
[2] Shirer, Priscilla. Discerning the Voice of God (p. 131). Moody Publishers. Kindle edition.
[3] Shirer, Priscilla. Discerning the Voice of God (p. 131). Moody Publishers. Kindle edition.
[4] Barton, Ruth Haley. Invitation to Retreat (p. 97). InterVarsity Press. Kindle edition.
[5] Morris, Robert. Frequency (p. 39). Thomas Nelson. Kindle edition.
[6] Morris, Robert. Frequency (pp. 88-89). Thomas Nelson. Kindle edition.
[7] Sorge, Bob. Secrets of the Secret Place (p. 60). Oasis House. Kindle edition.