Perspective

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Do you have a favourite outdoor spot where you go to pray, or meditate ?

I like to climb a hill in our village, called White Rock.

For years I’ve come to this peaceful place, when circumstances seem discouraging, or overwhelming.

I climb more slowly, and much more carefully these days, since I am in the 7th decade of life.

However, when I reach the top of the hill, I have a new perspective, and, for a while, I forget about current global circumstances.

It is impossible to fully understand God, since his thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and his ways are higher than our ways.

(Isaiah 55:8-9)

J.I. Packer reminds us that it is not helpful for us to try to pry into God’s secrets.

I must accept the fact that God owes me no explanation for why He does what He does.

Spending some quiet time on top of the hill helps me to better understand these truths, and helps my faith to grow.

I descend the hill as slowly and as carefully as climbed up.

At the bottom, my leg muscles are tired, but I feel peaceful and encouraged.

I am once again able to pray sincerely, ‘thy will be done’, rather than

‘my will be done’…

Pictured is the view from the top of White Rock, in November.

Published by Sally

I am a retired Sociologist/Educator from Ontario. I now live at the very edge of the North American Continent. I spend my time in contemplation, spiritual reading , intercessory prayer, and maintaining a spiritual garden grotto as a place of prayer in my backyard by the Atlantic.

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27 thoughts on “Perspective”

  4. It is valuable to have a place to go for prayer. Outdoors is great, the ceiling is much higher for starters. I usually make do with wherever I can find lately. But my woodland walk up Formonthills near my house is a great place to listen to God. I understand the physical aches of these walks, but my spirit is skipping for joy afterwards. I need to pray for some good weather now!

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  7. It’s special to climb to high places and stay there a while. I’ve had such places where I’ve lived in the past. My own special place now is just next to my house, with the view over the green hills and farmlands. Every time I see it I thank God for the blessing to be able to live here in this spot, and for everything else we have that is good.

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  8. I love J. I. Packer’s writings but was unfamiliar with the statement: “It is not helpful for us to try to pry into God’s secrets. I must accept the fact that God owes me no explanation for why He does what He does.”
    That is so true, and I find it very helpful ….
    Your posts are such an encouragement. Thanks for sharing this Sally.

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  9. Thank you Sally. What a great post. What a great place. High places have a more distant perspective which allows one to escape otherwise imposed limits. It is obviously best for the time you describe to also be alone. We expand our thinking and our spiritual awareness. The fog dissipates. Answers come easier. We can better access the Lord’s wavelength.

    And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time. [Mark 1:35]

    But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. [Luke 5:16]

    Blessings to you.

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  13. Perspective is so important! I just came in from watching the Leonid meteor showers. I was thinking how God is still working; we have to be watching carefully and focused on the right spot to even get a quick glimpse of the meteors, and the sky is so vast that we still miss many of them. In an even greater manner, God is so vast that if we are focused on Him, we may get little glimpses of what He’s doing, but we will still miss a lot.

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  15. Such a wonderful view from your hill Sally and it would be a great place for prayer. In summer I like to go down by the river for some quiet time and prayer. In winter months I must stay indoors however.😁😺🌞

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  16. I pray and meditate during my morning, evening and weekend runs. I usually tell people, I live on two drugs, my runs and the word of God. I am proud of you for climbing a mountain in your 70’s

    I am once again able to pray sincerely, ‘thy will be done’, rather than ‘my will be done’…THIS ONE HIT DIFFRENTLY because for me during my hard times, I find myself pushing my will to be done and not God’s will. This is so powerful

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    1. Hi Cynthia ! Thanks for your kind comments. Yes, I have many times prayed ‘my will be done’ only to find out that God’s will is always much better than my own.
      It has taken me many years to realize this truth. 🌼🤗

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