selfcare – GREENLiGHT

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psalm 23:2

Retreat means to withdraw. To take a step back. Jesus did this many times. He would disappear to spend time in the presence of his Father. He wanted to quiet his heart to gain the strength needed for the next steps on his earthly sojourn. If he needed strength, how much more we? Shouldn’t we follow the example that He set?

Larissa Marks, HuffPost contributor provided 6 practical steps to do a spiritual retreat. Here I share while giving a few of my own commentary.

Create the time and find a place. Any place quiet will do. It may be in your home. It may be away. It may be at a monastery or in nature. For me I skipped home to get away from the distractions. After two decades of receiving a prod to go, I finally gave in. Just me. Solo.
Set your intentions. What is the purpose? What is it you would like to achieve from this time with him? Is it a calling? Is it a life decision that you need to make? For me it was discernment and to follow his leading for the next phase of my life
Settle into God’s presence. Do something that quiets your heart and eases you into his presence. For me it’s walking in nature or sitting quietly breathing–welcoming and experiencing his presence. Ask him what he wants you to receive at this time. Listen and follow his lead.
Reflect. Do some quiet reflection. What have you experienced in the last few weeks, months or even years? What has been draining you? What has brought you satisfaction?
Connect with God. Read scripture. Notice any desire(s) that emerge. For me in his presence there’s always fullness of joy. Even in the midst of life’s storms I find that I can experience his quiet peace.
Receive and return. Think about what you received during this time away. What do you want to stop doing or start doing? Remember, it’s not about you, it’s about the Lord and accomplishing his will and purpose for your life.

Hope these tips will help provide guidance as you make important life decisions or seek discernment for the next phase of your life. If you have done solo retreats, what did you walk away with? What stood out most about this experience? Do share. We would love to hear.

But…

And yes there’s always a but… there’s a balance. Use caution. Be yourself but be careful of your intake. This means be careful of what you put inside your head. It goes to your heart. Undesirables create feelings of negativity, apathy and sadness when your desire to please goes astray. Desirables create feelings of positivity, purity and optimism. Make sure you follow the right crowd.

Yes, be you but remain humble. Be Christ-centered, not self-centered. Be confident in who you were made to be but make sure you walk circumspectly as being wise. It’s a thin line and you can fall off easily if you go astray.

Blessings overflow.