Thoughts from the Abbey

2 weeks ago I was privileged to spend the week with the monks at Mepkin Abbey.  I went on a fast of sound.  I did not speak a word to another soul for 4 days.  In a world of noise and constant activity this was to say the least surreal.  I first of all want to say that the commitment that these men of God have to prayer and hospitality is amazing.  Many of these moncks have been part of this life of service for decades.  I chose this as the sight for my week of sabbatical because deep down I did not need anymore sun, I didn’t need any more teaching or encouragement.  I needed to be quiet and listen for God.

Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the heathen and I will be exalted among the earth.”

It is difficult in our culture to be still not only physically but to be still in our spirits.  To quiet our hearts…to be honest it took hours for the noise of my thoughts rumbling around in my head to subside before I really felt like I was in silence.

For 4 days I walked, rested, prayed and read.  I fasted noise, breakfast and lunch.  My desire was to purge sin from my heart, seek God for direction and enjoy his presence.  All of those things were accomplished.  I absolutely recommend all pastors do something like this in the next year of your ministry.

Some of the books I read were…

Doctrine by Mark Driscoll

In a pit with a lion on a snowy day by Mark Batterson

Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

Switch by Dan and Chip Heath

Over the next days I will share some insight to what God revealed to me out there…however not all because some of it aint your beezwax.

So, without being judgmental when was the last time you were still and simply knew God?