What will I do on a Trip?
Activities include whitewater rafting, hiking, horseback riding, time of learning, and solitude time.
(activities vary from trip to trip)
(activities vary from trip to trip)
Intimacy Over Impact
Watch the following teaching video from Chris Hartenstein before you continue:
If intimacy is meant to be our primary focus as beloved sons, how do we cultivate it?
There are a few foundational truths we need to recognize as we step into cultivating intimacy with God. Without them, we will turn to either performance (where intimacy becomes a chore) or despair (where we don't believe intimacy with God is possible).
1. Cultivating intimacy requires rhythm.
Intimacy is deep, interconnected relationship. We don't develop it in a moment of passion. Instead, it's a process, which means intimacy develops OVER TIME. We need to recognize our current position to intimacy with God. Like a child learns to crawl, then walk, then run, we can examine our lives and ask, "Where am I at regarding my intimacy with God?" An honest answer to that question gives us a good starting point as we step into intimacy.
2. Cultivating intimacy takes time.
Intimacy requires regular points of connection: you get regular coffee with a friend, you attend a men's group every Thursday, you and your wife date once a week- all of these are rhythms of relationship that deepen intimacy. We need the same rhythms with God as we deepen relationship with Him.
3. Cultivating intimacy is rooted in grace and mercy.
Intimacy takes time to cultivate and requires regular rhythms. If we are honest, we can all admit that we're not always great at managing time and keeping rhythms. The shining, shifting mirages of the world often distract our hearts' attention. Whether we're "crawling" or "running" in our relationship with God, we all get distracted and sometimes neglect our time with Him. He knows that; his grace and mercy bridge that canyon. So, read the following sentence OUT LOUD at least four times: "I won't do this perfectly, and that IS OKAY. My Father still delights in me." Let it be TRUE; allow it to sink in.
"Withdraw to a Desolate Place and Pray"
Now, let's get practical. Jesus had a regular rhythm of spending time with his Father. This rhythm was KEY to cultivating intimacy between them. It was THE rhythm that marked him as a Beloved Son, so it's integral to our lives as sons. Jesus spent time in God's presence, where he eliminated noise and distraction, focusing his heart's attention on his Father:
- And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed, and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. - Mark 1:35
- In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. - Luke 6:12
- But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. - Luke 5:16
- And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. - Matthew 14:23
Jesus went AWAY to a QUIET space BY HIMSELF. That's the rhythm we want to help you cultivate this month. Your current position to this rhythm with God will determine how you step into it. Take a moment before you continue, and name where you are. Click the menu option that describes you BEST:
Crawling
The rhythm is simple. For a month:
Once a day,
- Go to a space alone (no phone, only a journal, pen, and Bible).
- Close your eyes. Give God everything on your mind and heart.
- Read a Psalm two to three times (starting with Psalm 1).
- In a journal, write down what verses stick out to you and tell God why they stick out to you.
At the end of the month,
- Read back through your journal entries: Do you notice any themes? Any keywords that kept popping up?
- Journal through the following questions: Why did those themes or keywords keep popping up for me? What are you (God) trying to say to me?
- Are you ready to Walk? If so, click on Walking in the menu and proceed for the next month. If not, THAT'S OKAY; step into another month of Crawling.
- We'd love to hear from you: How did it go? What went well? What didn't go well? Did you make any adjustments along the way?
Remember, you won't do this perfectly. That's not the point. The point is to build intimacy with God and let his goodness change you. Focus on being with Him. The rhythm is meant only as a point of connection - an embodied ritual that helps you be with your heavenly Father.
If you have any questions or want to talk to a staff member, email us at admin@thenewfrontierministries.org. We'd be thrilled to connect!
Walking
The rhythm is simple. For a month:
Twice during the day (once in the morning and once in the evening),
- Go to a space alone (no phone, only a journal, pen, and Bible).
- Close your eyes. Give God everything on your mind and heart.
- Read a Psalm two to three times (starting with Psalm 1).
- In a journal, write down what verses stick out to you and tell God why they stick out to you.
At the end of the month,
- Read back through your journal entries: Do you notice any themes? Any keywords that kept popping up?
- Journal through the following questions: Why did those themes or keywords keep popping up for me? What are you (God) trying to say to me?
- Are you ready to Run? If so, click on Running in the menu and proceed for the next month. If not, THAT'S OKAY; step into another month of Walking.
- We'd love to hear from you: How did it go? What went well? What didn't go well? Did you make any adjustments along the way?
Remember, you won't do this perfectly. That's not the point. The point is to build intimacy with God and let his goodness change you. Focus on being with Him. The rhythm is meant only as a point of connection - an embodied ritual that helps you be with your heavenly Father.
If you have any questions or want to talk to a staff member, email us at admin@thenewfrontierministries.org. We'd be thrilled to connect!
Running
The rhythm is simple. For a month:
Twice during the day (once in the morning and once in the evening),
- Go to a space alone (no phone, only a journal, pen, and Bible).
- Close your eyes. Give God everything on your mind and heart.
- Ask God what He wants to say to you. Sit in silence for at least 5 minutes, listening for God's voice. If you find your attention wandering, pray the following to bring your attention back to the Father: "Father, I am your beloved son. I give you my heart." Then, keep listening.
- In a journal, write down what verses stick out to you and tell God why they stick out to you.
At the end of the month,
- Read back through your journal entries: Do you notice any themes? Any keywords that kept popping up?
- Journal through the following questions: Why did those themes or keywords keep popping up for me? What are you (God) trying to say to me?
- Are you ready to Run? If so, click on Running in the menu and proceed for the next month. If not, THAT'S OKAY; step into another month of Walking.
- We'd love to hear from you: How did it go? What went well? What didn't go well? Did you make any adjustments along the way?
Remember, you won't do this perfectly. That's not the point. The point is to build intimacy with God and let his goodness change you. Focus on being with Him. The rhythm is meant only as a point of connection - an embodied ritual that helps you be with your heavenly Father.
If you have any questions or want to talk to a staff member, email us at admin@thenewfrontierministries.org. We'd be thrilled to connect!