A couple days ago, I found this unfiled journal note. And I remembered how important the most important things are:
Baw Beese Lake, Hillsdale, Michigan, USA 6/6/?
“Prayer Retreat”
Birds. Lake. Geese. Cool breeze. Shade trees.
I feel your creation. I worship you, Lord.
Your creation reflects you–but dimly. How glorious then you are!
Please open my eyes to see beyond this world into your reality.
May I walk by faith and not by sight.
May I walk–follow–so closely that I will always hear you, feel you, see what you see. In so doing, discover my heart beating in time with yours.
I often think of prayer as having a talk with you. Maybe telling you how I am feeling, and what I think I need.
I’m afraid I try to control the conversation.
Perhaps a large dose of “being with” or “being in” you is my most needed form of praying.
You are in me, with me, live and shine through me. You are everything. You are the Praised, the Worshipped, the Lord of all.
The Lord of me.
I long for you, need you, love you. I pursue you, and discover I am already being pursued by you.
You have caught me. I am so glad!
Why have a prayer retreat? Because no matter how we are feeling, no matter how we think things are going, we need to realign ourselves with our Lord and our Love.
When to have a prayer retreat? Now perhaps. Take even just a moment. Or during a mid-day break. Maybe plan an hour, a morning, a day with God, or even a weekend.
How to take a prayer retreat? Alone. Or with a few like-minded Jesus-followers. With a Bible, pen, notebook, or personal device to record what the Lord is saying to you. Pray the Bible back to God. Listen. Respond. Worship.
Where is the best place to have a prayer retreat? Anywhere where you will not be interrupted by anything that will disguise itself as more urgent, of higher priority, than your Sovereign and dearest Friend.
Very early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
Jesus got up,
left the house and went off to a solitary place,
where he prayed.
Mark 1:35