Posted in June 13, 2025

In Scripture, we see nine occasions where the Lord Jesus withdrew to a quiet place to be alone with God—a place of peaceful retreat away from the crowds. Amid the noise of ministry, He continually modeled the need for sacred solitude through prayer and communion with the Father. This rhythm of retreat is not only divine but also deeply practical for our lives today.

I reflect on this principle in one of my favorite personal moments—described in Your Total Disarming, Book Two. It's a scene that connects the external peace of nature with the internal stillness where God often speaks most clearly.

A Moment in the Midday Heat

When I cut my nails, I prefer to do it slowly and deliberately while seated outside my home. I often take this time to absorb the beauty of the surrounding wildlife—watching butterflies dance above lush vegetation. From the side door of the house, I walk the newer patio blocks to the backyard, where a small retreat awaits me: a patio with two benches, shaded by jackfruit and soursop trees.

Further protected by the towering banana suckers and cooled by the breeze from the nearby canal, the space feels like a hidden sanctuary. Around me are the gifts of God’s creation—coconuts, sapodilla, avocados, mammy, and persimmons—all bearing witness to His abundance.

This is where I usually sit for morning devotions and reflections, soaking in God’s goodness. But that Friday was no ordinary day.

From Comfort to Conviction

The outside temperature had climbed to ninety-eight degrees Fahrenheit. Stepping from the 78-degree comfort of air conditioning into the furnace-like heat was shocking. It felt as if the sun was pressing down on my skin, cooking the very air around me. I remember thinking if I could retreat into my shell like one of the turtles that sometimes visited, I would have.

I rushed for the shade and found partial relief on the custom benches I had recently built. Still, the heat clung to me. As I slowly cut and filed my fingernails, I wondered if I would endure long enough to tackle my toenails.

That’s when it happened.

Like a sudden rush, I felt the presence of the Lord. He was ministering to my spirit, helping me to comprehend something far more intense than a summer scorcher: the torment of hell. I was given a vivid awareness of the lake of fire—the relentless, searing heat—and of the eternal consequences for those who reject salvation.

A Holy Wake-Up Call

This moment under the trees was more than an uncomfortable afternoon—it became a divine wake-up call. It reminded me of the seriousness of eternity and the urgency of God’s call to repentance and faith. Hell is real. And so is heaven.

Jesus withdrew nine times to pray, but not just for peace—He prayed for power, for alignment with God’s will, and for the souls of humanity. May we, too, make room in the stillness to hear what God is saying. Even in ordinary moments—like cutting our nails—He can speak extraordinary truths.