Whether we envision it as a necessity or long for it as a luxury, most people covet “me” time—time away from the demands and responsibilities of life that seem to sap us of energy and focus.  I have been thinking about those opportunities to escape lately as figuring out how to schedule a haircut has become a challenge.  Scripture doesn’t particularly support “me time”, though—occasions where we set aside time to go where we want to go and do what we want to do—however, Jesus modeled the habit of withdrawing from the pressures of life to enjoy times of refreshing with the Father.

I cannot begin to remember the number of times I have muttered “I need a vacation!” or “I need a break!”, yet no relief came; not in the way I hoped, anyway.  Unfortunately for some, when they do get to take a break away from the demands of life, they let all restraint and boundaries go for the sake of freedom or indulgences not usually participated in.  The interesting thing is that no matter what we indulge, whether the flesh or the spirit, one does not ever seem to be satisfied, and ends up wanting more of the same.  Vacations end, weekends, even “long” weekends, seem too short, and the responsibilities of life always seem to infringe on our freedom.

After the disciples experienced an intense time of ministry, Jesus invited them to “‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile.’  For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat” (Mark 6:31).  I’ve often taken those moments where I can be by myself, those opportunities of stillness and refreshing, to spend time in less than noble activities such as following discussions on Facebook, playing games on the computer, or watching just way too much television.  …and that is not to say that activities are, in themselves, bad; however, I have to ask myself when frustration and tensions begin to dominate my life, am I taking the time to “come away” to a desolate place, without distractions, to find rest and peace in the Lord?

Our human nature does not want to appear too spiritual, though; we want to maintain an appearance of “balance” in an attempt to make Christianity more appealing to those who are not believers in Jesus Christ (and to ourselves)—besides, we do not appreciate incursions upon our freedoms.  No matter how often we may recite, “It’s not about religion—it’s a relationship with God”, we often spend more time with our friends or on our computers and treat them with more deference than the Creator of the Universe, who beckons us into intimate relationship.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Roman believers, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:5, 6).  He also taught the Galatian church, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh….Now the works of the flesh are fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these….But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”  (Galatians 5:16, 17, 19-23).

Paul continues his letter with a discussion of the principle of sowing and reaping:  “Do not be deceived:  God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7, 8).

Here is where God’s grace intersects my life and lives of all who chose to commit their lives to Him:  When I was born, as an infant, a child, and a teenager, I continued to grow physically, increasingly accepting responsibility, and maturing emotionally and intellectually.  For every moment outside of the shelter of my mother’s womb, the joys and tragedies of life confronted me and either built me up or tore me down.  The same thing happened to me spiritually—I grew (and am continuing to grow) and matured (and am maturing) in my faith.  Joys built me up; yet some of the tragedies that assailed me, affected me emotionally and spiritually in ways that I did not have the ability to withstand.  As I have grown-up, though, my values have changed and I find that the greater investment I put into my relationship with Jesus and spiritual matters, the greater capacity I have to withstand temptation and cling to Him in the midst of conflict—or as Peter so aptly puts, “…make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8).

Rather than “me” time, we all need “Him” time, because Jesus will keep our hearts in perfect peace when we focus our minds on Him and our trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3).  Isaiah also wrote these words of encouragement:  “Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).