Sharpen Your Spiritual Axe

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16

You may have heard the story of two woodsmen competing to see who could chop the most wood in a day. The younger woodsman worked tirelessly, pausing only to listen for signs of his opponent slowing down. Every hour, he heard the older man stop, and in his youthful pride, assumed his opponent was growing tired.

Yet, at the end of the day, to the younger man’s amazement, the older woodsman had chopped significantly more wood. Confused, he asked how the older man had outpaced him despite stopping so often.

The older woodsman simply replied, “Every hour, I stopped to sharpen my axe.”

Once or twice a year, I step away from the hustle and noise of life to “sharpen my spiritual axe.” I retreat to a quiet cabin in the middle of nowhere to spend uninterrupted time with the Lord. It’s a time of renewal, reflection, and reconnection with God—following the example of Jesus, who often withdrew to lonely places to pray during His earthly ministry.

These personal retreats are a chance to quiet my heart and seek the Lord’s voice. I take long prayer walks, pouring out my thoughts, confessing sin, seeking renewed passion, and expressing gratitude for God’s abundant blessings. I journal about every area of life—faith, family, ministry, health, hopes, fears, dreams, and plans—laying it all before the Lord. I spend time in deep Scripture study, often exploring passages I don’t typically visit. For example, this week, I’m reading through Judges, reflecting on Israel’s cycle of unfaithfulness and God’s unrelenting grace.

This extended time with the Lord helps me evaluate my daily rhythms. I reassess my priorities, asking: What in my life has eternal value, and what is simply a distraction? I recommit to habits that foster spiritual health, strengthen my family, build fellowship, and align my life with God’s purposes.

These retreats are indispensable for maintaining balance in my faith, family, and ministry.
Beyond these yearly moments, I strive for a monthly check-in to evaluate how I’m living out the commitments made during my time away. I’ve drifted from this practice in recent years but am reestablishing it as a cornerstone of my spiritual rhythm.

Two Encouragements:

1. Pray for me.

I ask you to pray that the Lord meets me during this time. Specifically, I’m seeking His
guidance for our church’s future. Our desire is to be a vibrant, Christ-exalting, gospel-
centered, life-giving, others-serving community—a place where disciples are made, lives
are transformed, and souls are saved. We’re not there yet, but by God’s grace, we can be.
Please join me in prayer for clear direction and renewed vision.

2. Take your own retreat.

I encourage you to carve out time—once or twice a year—to get away and “sharpen your
spiritual axe.” This may feel impossible, especially if you have young children or a
demanding schedule, but I promise you, it’s worth it. Talk to your spouse (if you’re
married), weigh the pros and cons, and find a way to make it happen. Mark it on your
calendar and protect that time fiercely. You’ll return refreshed, refocused, and renewed.

While these extended times are invaluable, they are not a substitute for daily rhythms of prayer and communion with God. Just as Jesus sought solitude to pray regularly, so should we. But these intentional retreats, a few times a year, can be a powerful tool to deepen your spiritual vitality and strengthen your walk with Christ.

I challenge you to consider this habit and experience the transformative impact it can have on your life.