Tips For Traveling With Jesus

When you go on vacation do you take Jesus with you? That may seem like a silly question because God is everywhere. But are you conciously aware of His presence and still listening to and talking with Him?  Vacation plans are usually full of planned as well as spontaneous activities.  Is your bible on your packing list or is it an extra you leave at home?

I remember babysitting for a family from my church and asking if the children were signed up for summer bible school week.  The father said no because “we take a vacation from church”.  I had never heard such a thing and I was taken aback by the idea. I’m glad God doesn’t take a vacation from us!  We are to be salt and light to the world and wherever we go we are ambassadors for Christ. So here are a few tips for keeping God in focus whether it is a day trip or longer.

1. Before you go:  As a family (or alone) ask a prayer for travel safety.  My father sometimes would read Psalm 121 which is a prayer of ascents. The pilgrims would sing this as they traveled up to Jerusalem for the feasts.

Psalm 121:2, 8 (ESV)   My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

2. Prayer :  Do you “say grace” or a prayer of thanks before you eat, even in a restaurant?  Or are you embarressed? We have made it a habit no matter where we are.  It does my heart good to see other families praying in this day and age!  We are priveleged that nobody will arrest us in the USA for this simple, private decalaration of thankfulness and faith.

3. Behaviour:  Do we model kindness and patience with other people?  Service personnel are often harrassed by angry customers. A smile and a thank you can go along way when their shift might be difficult.  Leave a note or gospel tract and tip well if appropriate.  If your service wasn’t satisfactory please use your words well without getting angry.

1 Peter 2:12   Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

James 3:13  Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

 

4. Quiet Time:  It may be difficult to keep your regular time with the Lord when away from home. We are in a different place and the schedule is totally different but God doesn’t have a prescribed hour for when we can talk with Him.  I think it is important to at least end the day with gratefulness.  Maybe you could make time for some journaling while traveling.

5. Enjoy and Give Thanks:  Whether you visit the ocean or the mountains, a zoo or local park, campground or a resort; take time to marvel at God’s big and wonderful world.  There is such an amazing assortment of landscapes and creatures everywhere you go even when having a picnic in your own backyard. Let us keep adventure and wonder in our travel and thank the One Who gives us all things to enjoy.

    Psalm 150:6  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!