nevergiveup – GREENLiGHT

6 Tips For A Spiritual Solo Retreat…

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.

Rescue Me…

Rescue me lord, rescue me

Often it seems you take so long to come to our rescue but your timing is always right. So We’ll wait in you just as long as you want us to. We only ask this one question lord, that you’ll strengthen us while we wait expectantly because can’t do this alone.

But we know that you are our Safe Place and in you we trust all the day long.

Use What Is Left…

Arise, use what is left. So what if your joy isn’t what it used to be? Use what is left. So what if your desire is dampened? Take hold of what is left. So what if your power is almost gone? Seize what is left and be what God said you could be. Don’t let circumstances abort your dream. Release your anointing. ~T.D. Jakes

Those words spoke to me. T. D. Jakes shared instances of biblical characters to shed the light.

Samson after he lost his sight gave what he had left

David with Goliath and his stones gave what he had left

Paul after he was shipwrecked used what he had left to get to the shore …a simple board

So today if you’re going through stuff, take heart. Be courageous and use what you have left to accomplish your victory. Strengthen what remains.

God Has A 360 Degree View Of Your Life…

The Lord has a 360 degree view of your life. He can see the past. He can see the present and he can see the future.

So when he gives you the quiet nudge to go… obey. Follow him. Hard as it may be, you won’t regret it.

I Didn’t Know What Else To Do…

I didn’t know what else to do. So I prayed with everyone.

That was the comment from an eye witness to a tragic accident when 2 teens who were about to graduate lost their lives while driving home late one night. 5 minutes away from home tragedy occurred.

She didn’t know what to do to help comfort the survivors driving behind in another car, so she ‘resorted’ to prayer.

Aren’t we all like that? It’s when we have exhausted all other options then we decide to pray. We have it Skewed. Today let’s give prayer precedence in our lives.

Blessings overflow.