Ten Tips for Christian Sojourners

1.) Don't tell anyone exactly what you're doing. Clearly you'll want to give your loved ones some idea that you'll be going to somewhere alone for at least ten hours but remember that Christ taught to do your righteous acts in secret--and what you're doing is a righteous and sacred act. And remember Jesus taught us to pray in secret (to shut your door so that "only your Heavenly Father can see you") by going on about your plans to spend hours praying your clearly violating Jesus's teaching.

2.) Don't bring food--unless you have to. Unless you have a medical condition, you've chosen to go out on a day when there's a lead warning or you get uncontrollably hungry when you go without food for a while--you'll be fine without food for the greater part of a day. Taking food with you can attract insects and sometimes mammals. And remember fasting is a Biblical thing to do.

3.) Don't eat much the day before in the afternoon. Unless you've chosen a place to meditate, worship and pray where you aren't violating the law by "going in the wild"; I do suggest you eat as little as you can in the afternoon before you head out.

4.) Don't bring the phone, unless you have to. For most people there is no greater successful device at distracting them than their mobile devices. So why not just leave it at home for one day; unless of course you really need it. If you do honestly believe you need it than I suggest you turn it off and only check it as much as three times a day.

5.) Travel without the watch. This one might seem really weird but I've found there's something beautiful about not knowing the exact hour and minute when I'm sojourning. If you want to know what time it is you can easily put a stick in the ground and to know when it's time to head home just look for a sunset (it's hard to miss.)

6.) Consider bringing a chair or a blanket. Sitting outside for ten hours can be more difficult than you might think and you tend to get sore.

7.) Turn off the tunes. Bring music with you may assist in your worship but it can just as easily become a snare if you fall into the trap of listening to music for pleasure or mindlessness instead of using the music as a way to worship God. The purpose of a worship song is to direct you, as an individual to worship God--not for you to enjoy yourself. You must be active, not passive. You must truly worship God and not be hypnotized by sound and words.

9.) Don't repeat words. In their obsession for a "spiritual experience" some people repeat the same words over and over again, but while that may bring the mind into a form of fluffiness--you will never be in communion with God this way because it requires an act in the core of your being. A holy resolve to worship Him through Christ--don't let yourself be deluded by merely mental practices.
Jesus said this: "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words."-Matthew 6:7. Be conscious, don't empty your mind--use it but not only your mind but your soul and your heart also. 


10.) Don't be discouraged if you fail, but persevere. If you find yourself unable to stay out for the day know that you're not alone. God may let you go out another day and you should remember that God knows your heart.