“The Road to Emmaus,” an 1877 painting by Robert Zund

Last Saturday, I had a super busy day planned. We were going to help friend set up her event in Los Angeles at 7 a.m., and then visit family afterward. I didn’t think I’d have time for prayer or a workout since we had to leave Oceanside at 5:40 a.m. But at 4:30 a.m., I felt the power of the Holy Spirit come over me to get out of bed…or maybe it was the power of my wife’s sharp elbow driving into my back because I was breathing too heavily in my sleep. Who knows? It was too early to tell.

Wide awake, I decided to go on a “prayer run”—killing two birds with one stone! As I took off, I started my run by asking Jesus if He ever ran. Silly question. Of course, what do you think He told me? “Mitch, I walk.” Coming to a brisk halt, I started walking with Jesus down to the beach, where I found a nice rock bench overlooking the powerful waves crashing onto the sand.

As we sat there together, I was reminded of Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” I thought about the pace of our Good Shepherd, leading us at a leisurely pace, making us lie down in green pastures, leading us beside peaceful waters. Our lives are so chaotic and busy; we try to get so much done in not enough time, and by the end of the day, we can’t sleep because we’re thinking about all the things we have to do tomorrow!

But Jesus’s reminder to us is to slow down and be led. Walk with Jesus. Don’t go on ahead of Him; every place He takes us is important, an opportunity to render to His voice, to receive restoration for our souls, to be led down paths of righteousness for His name’s sake—even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death! How often do we want to sprint through those dreaded valley! But even in suffering, persecution, loss, trials, testing, and temptation, we do not fear, because Jesus is walking with us. The rod of His discipline and training, and the staff of His authority and power, comfort us.

Skip forward to Monday morning. I was having a hard time focusing and praying in my office. Once again, I felt a nudge from Jesus: “Come, take a walk with me.” Gulping down the rest of my coffee and dreading leaving my warm, insulated office, I set out at the break of dawn, the crisp ocean breeze hit my face as we walked to our rock bench. Along the way, I asked Jesus, “What’s on your heart this morning? What do you want to do today?” Silence. Silence. And more silence. After staring at the waves for a few moments, I sauntered back home on a different path than I usually take.

Just around the corner from home, I noticed a man on the side of the road. His hoodie strings were pulled so tight that I could only see his handlebar mustache. With a bag of what seemed to be all his possessions over his shoulder, he was waiting for something. Not many people are out and about on my street at 6 a.m.; it was as if he were waiting for me! As I got closer, he approached and told me he had seen me yesterday on the beach, holding mitts for my wife as I led her through a boxing workout. We started talking, and he told me he had just gotten off parole and was looking for a job. The Lord reminded me of the question I had asked earlier, “What’s on your heart, Lord?” This man was the answer.

After spending some time getting to know him, encouraging him in the Lord, praying for favor in his job search, and exchanging phone numbers, I was reminded of the heart of the Father. Holy Spirit answered my prayer question by alluding to the fact that the lost sheep and the prodigals are on His heart. I am reminded that His eyes are scanning the face of the earth for His children who will walk with Him at His pace, who are listening for His voice, and who are in no rush and long to tend to the things He cares about. Who will join Him in preaching the good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom to the prisoners, recovering sight to the blind, liberating the oppressed, and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor?

Friends, today we are in the year of the Lord’s favor. The power and presence of Holy Spirit is as available today as it was at Pentecost. Will you join Jesus in what He is doing? By the power of the Spirit, will you partner with Him in stretching out our hands to those who are hungry and thirsty for the salvation of the Lord?

I encourage you: Take a walk with Jesus. Ask Him questions and listen. Start learning about what He cares about. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear anything. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. Be persistent and be expectant for unexpected answers and adventures!

“The Road to Emmaus,” an 1877 painting by Robert Zund

Last Saturday, I had a super busy day planned. We were going to help friend set up her event in Los Angeles at 7 a.m., and then visit family afterward. I didn’t think I’d have time for prayer or a workout since we had to leave Oceanside at 5:40 a.m. But at 4:30 a.m., I felt the power of the Holy Spirit come over me to get out of bed…or maybe it was the power of my wife’s sharp elbow driving into my back because I was breathing too heavily in my sleep. Who knows? It was too early to tell.

Wide awake, I decided to go on a “prayer run”—killing two birds with one stone! As I took off, I started my run by asking Jesus if He ever ran. Silly question. Of course, what do you think He told me? “Mitch, I walk.” Coming to a brisk halt, I started walking with Jesus down to the beach, where I found a nice rock bench overlooking the powerful waves crashing onto the sand.

As we sat there together, I was reminded of Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” I thought about the pace of our Good Shepherd, leading us at a leisurely pace, making us lie down in green pastures, leading us beside peaceful waters. Our lives are so chaotic and busy; we try to get so much done in not enough time, and by the end of the day, we can’t sleep because we’re thinking about all the things we have to do tomorrow!

But Jesus’s reminder to us is to slow down and be led. Walk with Jesus. Don’t go on ahead of Him; every place He takes us is important, an opportunity to render to His voice, to receive restoration for our souls, to be led down paths of righteousness for His name’s sake—even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death! How often do we want to sprint through those dreaded valley! But even in suffering, persecution, loss, trials, testing, and temptation, we do not fear, because Jesus is walking with us. The rod of His discipline and training, and the staff of His authority and power, comfort us.

Skip forward to Monday morning. I was having a hard time focusing and praying in my office. Once again, I felt a nudge from Jesus: “Come, take a walk with me.” Gulping down the rest of my coffee and dreading leaving my warm, insulated office, I set out at the break of dawn, the crisp ocean breeze hit my face as we walked to our rock bench. Along the way, I asked Jesus, “What’s on your heart this morning? What do you want to do today?” Silence. Silence. And more silence. After staring at the waves for a few moments, I sauntered back home on a different path than I usually take.

Just around the corner from home, I noticed a man on the side of the road. His hoodie strings were pulled so tight that I could only see his handlebar mustache. With a bag of what seemed to be all his possessions over his shoulder, he was waiting for something. Not many people are out and about on my street at 6 a.m.; it was as if he were waiting for me! As I got closer, he approached and told me he had seen me yesterday on the beach, holding mitts for my wife as I led her through a boxing workout. We started talking, and he told me he had just gotten off parole and was looking for a job. The Lord reminded me of the question I had asked earlier, “What’s on your heart, Lord?” This man was the answer.

After spending some time getting to know him, encouraging him in the Lord, praying for favor in his job search, and exchanging phone numbers, I was reminded of the heart of the Father. Holy Spirit answered my prayer question by alluding to the fact that the lost sheep and the prodigals are on His heart. I am reminded that His eyes are scanning the face of the earth for His children who will walk with Him at His pace, who are listening for His voice, and who are in no rush and long to tend to the things He cares about. Who will join Him in preaching the good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom to the prisoners, recovering sight to the blind, liberating the oppressed, and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor?

Friends, today we are in the year of the Lord’s favor. The power and presence of Holy Spirit is as available today as it was at Pentecost. Will you join Jesus in what He is doing? By the power of the Spirit, will you partner with Him in stretching out our hands to those who are hungry and thirsty for the salvation of the Lord?

I encourage you: Take a walk with Jesus. Ask Him questions and listen. Start learning about what He cares about. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear anything. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. Be persistent and be expectant for unexpected answers and adventures!