SECRET LIFE WITH GOD (1)

“But he would withdraw to DESOLATE PLACES and PRAY” – Luke 5:16 (ESV)

Nothing can replace a consistent SECRET LIFE with GOD: “But he would withdraw to DESOLATE PLACES and PRAY” (Lk.5:16). Jesus had a vibrant Secret Life with the Father. He often prayed in solitude, taking space from all the activities that constantly encircled Him. By withdrawing from life’s busyness, He was able to focus on prayer and meditation in the Word, and He likely found rest, opportunities for reflection, and greater intimacy with the Father. In practicing the Secret Life of daily prayer, it is helpful to give ourselves space away from r present circumstances. Even just closing the bedroom door and freeing our space from distractions could provide space to pray and reflect.

Prayer is a personal conversation with God and He wants to listen to the true feelings and desires of our hearts. Prayer is also a lifelong practice through which we continue to grow with intentional practice. In particular, Prayer Retreats can be highly significant in our spiritual journey, to enhance and complement our daily disciplines. Personal Prayer Retreats serve to: Intensity and accelerate our pursuit of God; refresh and renew our spirits from weariness; sharpen our responsiveness to receive revelation from God; bring clarity into God’s Ways and Works; provide the platform for receiving revelation from God; and help us to cross new thresholds in God instead of feeling “stuck” spiritually.

Prayer Retreats hold a strategic place in moving us forward in grace; hence we should learn to regularly schedule them into our calendar. Effective Retreats will wisely include four elements: solitude, prayer and fasting, the Scriptures, and no entertainment.

Solitude: Group retreats have their place, but getting alone with God is unmatched. The quieter the better. Away from the everyday demands of life, we’ll shockingly realize how social interaction has anesthetized our awareness of God. The drastic separation from all distractions is vital to maximizing the retreat time.

Prayer and Fasting: Matthew 17:21 emphasizes on fasting. Prayer is indispensable, but 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 Scriptures: An effective retreat is filled with meditations in a wide variety of Scriptures, which by all means must include and emphasize large portions in the Gospels, especially the “red lettered” words of Jesus.

No distractions: This means no TV, videos, radio, newspapers, computer games, magazines, or entertainment. Part of the intensity of the retreat will derive from our refusal to numb the boredom of being with no one else or nothing else but God.

It’s amazing how God will honour our commitment to carve out a three-day or seven-day retreat into a basic schedule. Our Secret Life can be ignited into new levels with God through the strategic employment of prayer and fasting retreats at planned intervals throughout life’s journey! Our awesome Teacher, the Holy Spirit Himself, will teach and guide us aright.