Retreat is an Option

Why retreat, like surrender, might be a really good idea

I completed my first prayer retreat about two years after my life changed and I became serious about seeking Jesus… and that first one… it felt crazy.

We had one year old daughters. Two of them. I was a volunteer minister. We both worked.

There was no room.

I wanted an intentional life, and I wanted one lived in close proximity to God.

I had begun a journey of becoming more intentional in my life with Him, and with my own self. The year previously -for the first time in my life- I wrote out goals for myself… and there was a problem.

“Take prayer retreat” was on my goals list from the previous year and it was now December.

When I’d written it down it’d sounded like a good idea.

… but life was busy. And a prayer retreat… it sounded weird, frankly. Maybe best left to the prophets in the bible.

And… two one year old daughters. Wife. Winter. And me leaving for… what?

I didn’t know.

That’s what killed me.

I knew I wouldn’t find out if I didn’t go.

So I went.

Like so?

I stole a single night from a life that had no room for me to take anything.

It was… magical.

Just leaving was magical.

Realizing, in that moment, that I am actually the guy that does this… was magical.

Before I’d even done anything it was already a huge win.

It was a win because I had decided who I was going to be. And who I was going to be was a person that makes room for God.

And until the moment I did that, I wasn’t.

Walking out the door, I felt that.

That’s a thing.

And that’s my point. You can give yourself that too.

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

James 4:8a

It’s like the rest of this holy-ghost-rollercoaster… you don’t actually need anyone’s permission except your own. God gave you the ticket. The only question is… ‘will you go?’

And, bluntly, the person least likely to give you permission is not some remote authority… it’s you.

So here’s what you do.

Open up your calendar right now, and pick a day. Then, go to expedia and book it.

Right now.

And then… go.

Make sure to tell me all about it.

As for what you will do? …I don’t know. ‘What will you do?’ is a question for you to answer. Finding that out is half the fun.

Me?

I took a bunch of post-its, listened to worship and pink floyd, did an inventory on who I am and want to be.

Prayed and ate pizza.

Stuck those post-its all over the windows.

More like this.

Assessed my goals and made new ones.

First goal for the following year?

“Take 3-Day Prayer Retreat.”

But that’s me.

Who are you?

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All scripture referenced is NLT unless otherwise noted. I prefer NLT for postural discussion as it is both reasonably rigorous while retaining a conversational tone.

For study I strongly encourage the use of original language tools, multiple translations, and rigorous critical thought.

Please remember that when you read the Bible in English you are always reading someone else’s theological interpretation of the text.