Spiritual retreat (2)

Key Verse: Psalm 62:5, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him,” (ESV).

THE word “retreat” was first used in the 14th century to describe a military action of withdrawing from exercise or action. Spiritual retreat affords you the time to reflect, pray, meditate, and connect with God. It is essential for people’s emotional and spiritual well-being. Retreat helps to recharge your spiritual energy in a world that is constantly draining your spiritual batteries.

We need blocks of time designed to recharge our spiritual batteries. What we need is to plan special “oases times” for our souls: that is what is called personal spiritual retreats. Jesus began His ministry with personal spiritual retreat. After His baptism, Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness fasting and praying (Luke 4:2). David Brainerd speaking on the need for spiritual retreat said, “But of late, God has been pleased to keep my soul hungry, almost continually; so that I have been filled with a kind of pleasing pain. When I really enjoy God, I feel my desires of him the more insatiable, and my thirsting after holiness the more unquenchable; and the Lord will not allow me to feel as though I were fully supplied and satisfied, but keeps me still reaching forward.”

You plan retreats for the fortification of your life and soul. Someone has wisely said, “A crisis does not make a man; it reveals him.” Just as soldiers prepare for the battle, we must spiritually fortify our souls for spiritual warfare. Studying the Scriptures, you will discover a pattern in the life of Jesus. Even in His busiest, most demanding times, Christ separated Himself from the crowds to pray. When He was facing major decisions or events, He took time for personal retreats. Jesus set a great example for us to follow in this area. Jesus used retreat as a time for refuge.

After receiving the news of beheading of John, the Bible said that Jesus departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself (Mathew 14:13). During those times when the pressures are mounting and the crowds are pressing, we need to get alone with God in a place of solitude and prayer. Jesus used retreat as a time to refuel His spiritual energy. After the spectacular miracle of feeding the 5,000, he left the multitudes and went up to the mountain to pray and He was alone there till night (Matthew 14:23). We need to live and minister from the overflow of our lives, which requires extended time with God. We can only give if we are also refueling.

Spiritual retreat is intentionally spending time with God. Since the demands and decisions of life never stop, we must intentionally spend time with the God to Refocus. Mike Calhoun said, “Pressures, crises, and schedule demands should not be viewed as excuses from but invitations to spend time with God.” You can plan for days, full day, half-day, an hour or evening, depending on your comfort level and schedule, but go on retreat. Put it on your calendar; don’t assume it will just happen. Make retreat a priority for your spiritual growth. Be sensitive to your need of taking unscheduled retreats when your demands make this necessary. Go to a quiet place of seclusion where you are not interrupted to have a retreat with God. Put yourself in a distraction-free zone away from those things that normally get your attention, such as phone, social media, activity, job, person, or food. One of the blessings of solitude I have discovered is I return refreshed. There is something rejuvenating about solitude with God that cannot be gained elsewhere.

• Today’s Nugget: Solitude is a place of Rejuvenation. Prayer: Lord help me to wait upon You. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: [email protected] Rev. (Dr.) Abel UkachiAmadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.