Retreats
photo credit: debbietingzon
I lead 1-day women’s retreats but have long wanted to make retreats available online as well. Eventually I will add group retreat resources but for now will post some individual retreats you can do based on imaging prayer and Christian meditation. Subscribe to my newsletter so you don’t miss any! The signup form is on the right.
A Personal Retreat for Christians
This guide is for Christians who would like to take a personal retreat with God. This is specific to Christians and not retreats in general because Christian retreats are different. Other faiths seek to contact something that is not Jesus Christ. Secular retreats are concerned with psychological self-help. The Christian retreat is based first on hearing God’s word in the Bible and through His Holy Spirit, and secondarily with good physical and psychological practices. (Mind you these are good things; they are just not the most important things.)
It can be hard to get that kind of time. But you need to ask yourself – What does God want me to do?
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Mt. 6:6)
But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. (Lk. 5:15-16)
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. (Lk. 6:12)
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. (Mk. 6:31)
So if you want to go on a retreat but think you can’t… ask God to make a way where there seems to be no way.
Why do you want to retreat?
There are many reasons that you might feel the need to retreat. For example:
- God’s guidance for a relationship.
- God’s guidance with your career, business or school.
- A closer relationship with God.
- Help with a persistent sin or weakness.
- A need to find out God’s will.
- A quiet place where you can experiment with prayer.
- Or just a need to get away and quietly listen to the Father who loves you.
Where to Take Your Retreat
Can you retreat at home? You can, especially with the half day retreats. However, home can be mightily distracting. I suggest that you do something different than you normally do, such as take the retreat on your porch or deck. If it’s cold or too public (or you don’t have a porch or deck), then change the furniture around or go into a room you don’t spend a lot of time in. You can also prepare a place for a retreat by cleaning a spot of its usual bric-a-brac and bringing in plants and candles. Anything to make it look different and welcoming.
Can you retreat at your church? Maybe. Your local church probably knows you well and you’re likely to run into people you know. You will have to plan your location carefully to avoid talking to everyone who comes into the church during the day. I would suggest you tell the pastor what you are doing and then take your retreat in the sanctuary where people are less likely to be running in and out.
Ideally you would go elsewhere. Here are some ideas:
A local monastery or convent. You don’t have to be Roman Catholic or Episcopalian to be welcome at their guest houses. Call beforehand since not all monasteries are set up to take retreatants, but many are.
Park or public garden. There will be other people around but they won’t interrupt you. You do need a quiet place though, so find a place off the beaten track such as a secluded bench away from the action.
Ocean, lakeside or forest. It’s easier to find a private place in the forest than by a beach – something about all those trees. But if you can find a secluded beach or quiet lakeside, then go for it. And if you or someone you know owns a vacation property where you can be alone, that is close to ideal.
Someone else’s house. This can be a little unusual but you might be able to arrange some retreat time at a friend’s or parents’ house. It should go without saying that the friend and parents shouldn’t be there at the same time.
Keep the cell phone off and the Internet connection at home. Some of you are getting the shakes even as we speak, because what if the world should blow up during the six hours you do not have your cell phone turned on? Honestly, if you have an ailing parent, child or pet you’re not going to be on away on a retreat anyway. As for the Internet connection, lose it. Sure you can get to Biblical resources… you can also get to Facebook and email. Turn it off.
What to Take on Retreat
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You don’t want to be distracted by uncomfortable clothing and you should also go walking if you can. One of the important places to meet God and to worship him is in the beauty of his creation.
Bring your Bible. Yes, it should go without saying, but put it on the packing list.
Bring something to journal with. Journal ideas include good old paper and pen. When I’m away from my computer I take a blank book with me and write in that. I have a whole collection of them by now. You might also use a laptop or netbook. If you journal electronically then bring it along, just turn off the Internet! Also consider bringing materials for a visual journal. Bring along paper and art supplies such as markers, colored pencils, watercolors, and collage materials. It doesn’t matter if you’re artistically any good or not.
Bring snacks or a lunch and water. Or if you are fasting, just bring the water and maybe a thermos of coffee. (That’s probably fast cheating but I do it anyway.)
Bring Christian books to read but don’t send the whole day reading! You are there to talk and listen to God. He can speak to you through the pages of a book but it can be tempting to keep on reading instead of engaging with God. So read books but pray and journal over what you read.
At the Retreat
The point of the above is to PRAY. You will pray over different things. You will pray over your Bible reading and Christian books. You will pray as you journal. You will pray as you walk. You will pray as you wrestle with issues and learning. You will pray as you relax into the presence of God in silence.
That’s really it, that’s the whole point. Talking to God. Sometimes all God wants from us is our attention. Why? So He can show us that He loves us. How amazing, how life-changing is that? So listen. Just listen.
