A week ago, I answered a call. I think at first I thought it was spam. Admittedly, I may have ignored the call – dare I say even blocked the beckoning. But God. God has a way of interrupting. He knows how to get around the noise and the barricades that we erect. God sent a message of confirmation to me through a sister friend. She shared that God spoke to her and directed her to tell me that He desired to spend time with me, to restore me, to love on me and affirm me that I am indeed His daughter, no matter the counter messaging and tribulation surrounding my existence. I received the directive. I booked a flight to a place I’ve never been, where I knew no one and would not be tempted to set up meetups that did not involve solely meeting with God. And meet we did. When God says, “Come away with me,” He means it for our good, but sometimes the cares of the world and even doing “good God” can make us immune to believing that we as my therapist once said, “Can pour from an empty cup.” While I’ve said out of my mouth, “I need and understand the importance of wellness,” and I do, there is a different kind of wellness not associated with massages, nice brunches, retail therapy and the like (although I did a little of that as well). There is wellness related to our spiritual wellbeing that we must prioritize and protect. Being still and listening to what thus saith the Lord is mandatory and if I’m honest, a little intimidating. What if He says what I don’t want to hear? What if He directs me to do something that I don’t want to do? You get the picture. It’s not that I don’t desire to “steal away” with God, but “stealing away with God,” may mean that one of us is not returning – or at least not returning the same way. Breathe! That’s a little scary. I did eat some really good food. I walked a lot. I prayed, and even the more, I listened. I danced. I worshipped. I laughed. I received instruction. I received correction. I received confirmation. I relaxed. God poured into my empty cup. Here’s a glimpse of what I received. Perhaps you may find nuggets applicable to your season:

“I saved you to do good. I love you. Stop worrying. Cast all your anxiety upon me. Follow what you write. Love Me! Steal away with me. Be naked before me. Pour out your heart! I will listen. I understand. I created you. I’ve kept you. I’ve taken you places you never imagined. And I have so much more. Don’t worry. I’ve got you. You are my Daughter, of the Most High King. Be still and know that I am God. Is there anything (even that) too hard for me?! Breathe. In and out. Submerge in me. Still waters run deep. Hold on to your faith. It will NEVER fail you!”

Luke 5:16 reads, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” May we not be intimidated to answer God’s invitation to “Come away with me,” and I’ll add what my Pastor says, “Come up higher.” Santa Fe is over 7000 feet above sea level. One’s body must adjust to the higher elevation. At first, I had a headache and nausea. I actually did an oxygen treatment to address my discomfort. It made a world of difference. The irony is there is a sense of euphoria the body experiences being in a higher altitude once it adjusts. Lesson: “Stay high with Jesus and happy!” The invitation to do so may not show up in a beautiful Evite. In an effort to get the goods, it may require a leap of faith to go it alone, but you won’t be by yourself. It may not present as a trip that requires a plane, it may be going to sit in a park for a few hours to simply admire creation and hear His voice in the stillness. During my trip, there was a chapel in the hotel I stayed in. Majestic is an understatement, but even in all its glory, all the “church” I do here, and it took me over a thousand miles away to find sanctuary within myself. On the map it appears that there is a straight line between North Carolina and Santa Fe. It’s been said that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. That connector is God. We cannot be what God needs or what we see ourselves as being to others, unless we connect with the One who created us, knows us, purposes us and sees us for all of who we are and all we are becoming. Answer the call.