INTIMACY THROUGH RETREATS

“And He said to them, “COME ASIDE by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” – Mark 6:31a

Our Lord Jesus Christ confirmed the worth of Divine INTIMACY through RETREATS for God-glorifying Impact: “And He said to them, “COME ASIDE by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat” (Mk.6:31). Here, our Lord Jesus Christ encouraged His disciples to “come aside” to a secluded place, “rest a while” from their busy routines, and observe a personal retreat. The Bible contains numerous examples of individuals who sought God in solitude, such as Moses on Mount Horeb and Elijah in the wilderness. Personal retreats can be highly significant in our spiritual journey, complementing our daily disciplines.

A personal retreat is a time for intentional reflection, prayer, and seeking God, often involving setting aside time and space from regular routines. In addition to providing a much-needed opening for rest and rejuvenation, a retreat affords the opportunity for spiritual renewal and reinvigoration, allowing individuals to reconnect with God and the inward man! Retreats offer time for reflection, self-assessment, guidance and discernment of God’s Will for one’s life. Often involving time for focused prayer, meditation, and Bible study, they help to deepen one’s relationship with God, and can be uniquely transformative experiences, leading to deeper understanding of oneself and God.

Personal prayer retreats can refresh and renew weary spirits; intensify and accelerate our pursuit of God; and sharpen our responsiveness to receive revelation from God. They are times of receiving divine guidance for specific challenging situations; and help release the Believer who feels spiritually “stuck” to cross new thresholds in God. Retreats can hold a strategic place in moving the Believer forward in Grace. Believers who cultivate the spiritual habit of regular retreats often manifest consecration and spiritual fruitfulness in their walk with God.

Four vital elements of effective retreats are: Solitude, Focus, Fasting, and the Word.

Solitude infers getting away from the everyday demands of life and being alone with God, quite apart from group retreats. The quieter the better. We often do not realise how social interaction has anesthetized our awareness of God! The radical separation from all distractions is vital to maximizing our retreat time.

Focus means: to shut out entertainment – phones, social media, TV, videos, computer games, or magazines. The initial boredom will serve to reveal our true heart.

Fasting has the dual benefit of freeing us from the distraction of food preparation and consumption, and intensifying our spiritual pursuit by means of the grace released through self-denial.

The Word – meditations in scriptures, especially the Gospels and as guided by the Holy Spirit – must fill every worthwhile personal retreat. Meditation during retreats should be appropriately complemented by the habit of Journaling, as the Lord will definitely download His Heart!

The truth concerning personal retreats is one of the greatest secrets of the secret place. Retreat results in restoration and revival!