Take God With You On Vacation...

I know it sounds a little goofy...of course God goes with me on vacation...He is everywhere I go...but...

What does your relationship with Jesus look like in your daily routine? Perhaps each day begins with prayer and Bible study and every meal begins with thanksgiving. Your children, your spouse, and even your co-workers may be aware that you involve God in every decision. For many of us, this is a valid, consistent picture of our relationship with Christ right up until – vacation time.

1st Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

On a typical day, we wouldn’t consider leaving the house without bathing our family in prayer, but on those harried mornings when ‘we were going to be on the road by 6am,’ we will shove the kids into the car along with enough supplies to stay away for a month, and quickly drive away entrusting our lives only to the reliability of a 3 to 4-thousand pound automobile! Consider the promise of God that we read in Joshua 1:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” We, however, can be quick to unintentionally leave our Lord behind when a vacation to-do list becomes our most important agenda.

The other aspect of a vacation that can be a sign of a misplaced priority is the “vacation fight.” I imagine those words alone conjure up a memory with, I hope, a smile, that can only come from looking back through the photo album. Disagreement or irritability with a spouse or children seems inevitable while on a vacation because events, travel time, or even stops along the way are not going according to OUR PLAN. Whose plan is really important, though? Psalm 33:11 reads, “….the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.”

So what if your plans don’t work out the way you are expecting? Remember God’s promises from Matthew 10:30, Psalm 139:13, Jeremiah 29:11, and Psalm 139:14; that you and everyone in your family are fearfully and wonderfully made and that every hair on your head is counted and that the creator of the universe knew each of you before you were born! Remember, also, that God has a plan for you and for your family; plans to prosper you and not to harm you.

So, gas up the car and gather your family to pray and lay all your plans at the foot of the cross. You are now ready to pack your bags with 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and have a fantastic vacation!

That being said I an taking a vacation with my wife, a vacation away from work, the house, my computer, emails, and yes EP ...some will rejoice in that alone, LOL. I do plan to be back though... but too I am planning to go with GOD , in Christ Jesus. 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”



Or NOT