Open

Open

"Kelly, don't limit me," God said as I drove out of town toward my weekend prayer retreat. I felt those words literally unfold and expand inside my gut.

"Don't limit me in YOU."

Be open. Open your heart. Open your hands. Open your mind and spirit and paradigms. Don't limit God by your own smallness. That was His word to me.

So I popped into Bel Air to pick up water bottles and jumped back into my Prius to cover the remaining two and three-quarter hour trip to the Santa Cruz mountains. Three years prior a friend told me about this place, and she was right: it is a glorious, Asian Rivendell. Meticulous, lush gardens and landscaping along with precious, healing, servant-hearts of it's staff who welcome you with smiles and encouragement and who deflect all glory to God. This is a sacred, dedicated place.

There is no official charge for overnight stays in the modest carpeted cabins consisting of a simple desk, chair, and window. No air conditioning or heat. Donations are appreciated, however. And Fasting Prayer Mountain of the World requests that no food be brought onto it's campus--also known as a great big, outdoor sanctuary over the whole grounds. Redwood tree stumps aligned perfectly, amphitheatre-style, invite masses, small groups, and solitary seekers. This is an oasis for intercessors, ministers, and anyone who needs to get away and just pray. Throughout each day and night, prayers can be heard in multiple languages, along with worship in song and the occasional blowing of the shofar. The reverence, serenity, and power are palatable. God's people are here to be with Him, and you can tell He likes to hang out here.

I come 2 weeks after God invites me, and miraculously, I make it. I experience very little pain here, even sleeping on the floor in my sleeping bag. God whispers that He has a messenger with a word for me--that it will be a pastor from another culture. And Saturday morning that is exactly what I experience. With his permission, I record it on my smartphone and write it all down. He ends by saying another person will come and meet with me to confirm this word, which happens after I get back home. Then I share the word with my family. Wow. God is truly Emmanuel. He misses nothing. He uses it all. And NOTHING can cancel His calling in our life. Nothing.

You see, Jesus isn't just the Door to eternal life. He is the Door to US. We are closed, suffocating, without Him making an opening in us. When the Door, Jesus, opens US, the breath of eternal life breezes through us afresh. We exhale unforgiveness and inhale grace. We exhale discouragement and inhale His holy destiny. We exhale exhaustion and inhale His infusion of infinite stamina. We exhale hurts and pain, and we inhale His deep, deep healing and hope. We exhale our pity party and inhale His hilarious wholeness. We exhale our impatient timetable and inhale his perpetual patience, and we keep learning what it means to let patience have her perfect work. 

Just some precious hours and days in the garden with my Lord. How precious. How powerful. I'm looking forward to our next rendezvous. He plans the best getaways.

*Fasting Prayer Mountain Of The World runs on donations only. There are showers restrooms and sinks outside the rustic cabins. It is not Five Star in accommodations, but definitely in beauty and spiritual serenity. Down the hill are conveniences like Dollar Tree, K Mart, Taco Bell, Peet's Coffee & Tea, & McDonald's.

Written 9th July 2014, by Kelly Stack Scott