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Kidder Creek: Unplugged
Mount Hermon Christian Camps and Conference Center
Mount Hermon Christian Camps and Conference Center

Kidder Creek: Unplugged

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March 11, 2022

Here at Kidder, we are big on unplugging. We’re thankful for the connection that the internet and social media provides us, and love showing the fun, growth, wonder, and relationships that come from summer camp! But even more than connecting over social media, we love connecting with the world around us and experiencing the goodness of God through His creation. That’s one of our fundamental goals at Kidder Creek: digging into God’s Word and investing in community while spending time in creation. With that in mind, we are starting a new devotional series centered around unplugging that will provide action steps to get outside, connect with God through nature, and try something new. This is your opportunity to slow down, spend time in creation, and invest in real relationships.

Come alongside us as we set down distractions and adventure together into the rest that God has designed us for!

Solitude and silence were a significant element of Jesus’ ministry. He often withdrew from the crowds and went into the wilderness to pray, particularly when he needed to take space to connect with his Father after a busy season. We see this in Luke 5:14-16 after Jesus heals a man with leprosy and word about his miracles begins to spread, “Then Jesus ordered him, ‘Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.’ Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
During your next devotional time, challenge yourself to sit in silence for a couple minutes. Find a beautiful place outside and spend time looking, listening, and meditating on the character of God. We’ve put together a list of prompts that you can use to guide times of silence where you set down your phone and leave the noise behind.Step 1: Get outside and find a comfortable place where you won’t be distracted.
Step 2: Ask God to speak to you and sit quietly listening to hear what He has to say.
Step 3: Pick one of the prompts below and use it as a guide. Sit in silence for 5-10 minutes, taking in God’s Creation while you listen.
  1. Meditate on the different qualities of God and the ways He has demonstrated those qualities in your life. How do you view Him? Creator? Stronghold? Comforter? Counselor?
  2. How has Jesus brought good news into your life? In what ways have you experienced His power?
  3. God is the Creator of everything and He wants a relationship with His creation. Think about the power of that statement. He calls you by name, inviting you into rest and relationship. When/where do you feel most connected to God?
  4. Think about a time in your life when you were lost or overwhelmed. How did God show up for you during that time? How have you seen God continue to help you in times of need? Have those experiences made it easier for you to help others when they are in need?
  5. Strength, shield, salvation, stronghold – these are a few characteristics of God found in the Psalms. God is a fortifying force for those who trust in Him. In what areas of your life do you need strength or reinforcement right now? How might God be inviting you to trust Him?
  6. What’s something new you discovered about the character and nature of God recently? Who is someone you can share that with?
Step 4: Pick a practical way to unplug from your phone and get into the outdoors!
  1. Go on a walk or run instead of scrolling online, try running without music and pray or talk to God instead.
  2. Turn off your notifications for period of time. This could be a day, a week, or even picking one app to completely turn notifications off.
  3. Pick up a new hobby: mountain bike, paddle board, swimming, hiking. Extra points if it’s with a friend or family member!
  4. Instead of checking your phone first thing in the morning, go outside as soon as you can for 5 minutes.
  5. Explore a new park, trail, or outdoor space near you that you’ve never been to.
  6. Schedule one day a week to spend the whole day off social media. Don’t scroll or post, just spend the day taking in the moments without posting about it.

Time alone with God is important and those quiet moments can help us in our relationship with Him. When we create space for God in our lives, He will fill it. This is a truth modeled by Jesus and can be helpful to make a part of your routine. What does that look like practically? It looks like carving out intentional time in your day to be alone with God in the quiet. At Kidder, this looks like getting rid of distractions, spending time outdoors, and enjoying the peace and majesty of God’s creation.God loves you and wants to meet with you. There is nothing more powerful or profound than intimacy with Jesus. The more we make time for Him, the more we learn just how worthy of our love He is, and how much He wants to partner with us in bringing His kingdom to earth.

Further reading: Psalms 63:1-8, Psalms 23:1-6, Psalms 139:17-18

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