WHAT'S THE POINT?

[justusseven]

On Silent Retreats…

This post is intended to answer some of the most often asked questions about silent retreats.  For those of you new to this study, a silent retreat is an extended time alone with God; away from distractions such as television, radio, books, and all obligations in order to spend an hour…an afternoon…a day…or a few days in silence with the Lord.  Bring yourself, your Bible, a notepad and a pen. 

How Long?

Depends.  As we follow the writings of Linda Andersen, we see that our souls can benefit from a few minutes gazing at the stars.  I myself had something similar a few weeks ago.  I was driving in my car, thinking about a situation in my life that is causing worry and uncertainty.  I was giving in to the temptation to feel alone in this struggle…like perhaps God wasn’t hearing me or He didn’t care.  As I looked up, I saw the most indescribably magnificent sunset, filling the sky with a myriad of reds, oranges and purples.  At once I knew in my spirit that God was reminding me, “This is my handiwork.  What is impossible for me?”.

The concept of a “retreat” or a “time away with God” can be taken into our everyday lives.  These “back porch” moments need not replace a set aside number of hours or days reserved exclusively for Spiritual Retreat, but can serve to carry us in between our formal “retreat” times.

Why?

This is the biggest question and one I intend to take the most time answering.  

ANSWER #1: TO FOLLOW IN JESUS FOOTSTEPS

Mark 6:31

“So Jesus said to them, “Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we can be alone and you can rest awhile.” 

Matthew 17:1-5

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

Matthew 14:13

"When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns."

 Matthew 15:21

"Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon." 

Mark 3:7

"Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed."

Luke 5:16 

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." 

 

ANSWER #2: TO BE ALONE WITH GOD

YOU CAN LISTEN FOR HIM WITHOUT DISTRACTION

1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT)

 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.  And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Job 26:14 NIV

“And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him!  Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"

Matthew 7:7 AMP

“Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.”

Isaiah 56:7a KJV

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer”

Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

2 Chronicles 15:12 NIV

“They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.”

Psalm 119:2 NIV

“Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”

Psalm 119:10 NIV

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.”

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Revelation 3:20 NIV

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

GOD OFTEN CALLED THOSE WHO SOUGHT HIM TO FIND SOLITUDE

Exodus 19:3

“Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain…”

1 Kings 19:11 (NLT)

 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him.”

Matthew 14:23

“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.”

Habakkuk 2:1

“I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost.  There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint.”

Psalm 91:1

“HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].”   

We find God when we seek Him with all our hearts.   Whether it be in a house full of family or at a silent retreat.  It isn’t absolutely necessary to get far away from distractions in order to hear God speak. If it were, we'd never recognize His promptings in the course of everyday life.  But there are times to eliminate the voices of the world in order to hear undistracted the voice of God.

 

ANSWER #3: TO WORSHIP

Worship takes many forms.  At my last retreat, I sat on a porch overlooking a pond and watched the swans.  There is a certain awe and reverent worship that comes when the rest of the world is hushed and the majesty of God is before you to admire. 

Examples from the Bible:

Habakkuk 2:20

“But the Lord is in his holy Temple.  Let all the earth be silent before him.”

Psalm 19:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Zephaniah 1:7

“Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.”

Psalm 62:1-2

“My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.”

Isaiah 30:15

“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.  But you would have none of it.”

ANSWER #4: FOR DIRECTION AND DISCERNMENT

Luke 6:12-13

“One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.  At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles.”

Where?

In your car

In a pool

In an RV or a tent

On a secluded area of the beach

A hike in the woods or the mountains

A formal retreat center

The unoccupied home or cottage of a friend

Your back porch 

But isn't this selfish and self-indulgent?

If the focus of our lives is on "filling our own cup" without pouring into others then YES...it is selfish.  God fills my cup so I can minister to the world out of my overflow!  Our entire purpose for growth, learning, and renewal is so we can BE JESUS TO THE WORLD!!!

[letsgetreal]

Jun. 18, 2008 at 7:13 PM Wow. This is a keeper. I already have a file of your stuff in my hard drive. Thanks for all the TLC you put into Digging Deeper. I love summarizations . Its a great way to clarify and clear out the cobwebs and develop sort of  a personal mssion statement.