Recently I have been reading a lot about "Personal Retreat Days" or "Mini Spiritual Retreats." I assume that many of you think that this is a luxury only for fulltime Christian workers. But Spiritual health should be just as high a priority (if not higher) than physical health.
Employers hardly give a second thought if an employee asks for time off to visit their Doctor. A few years ago I was introduced to the idea of a "Mental Health Day" which is the employee's version of the school kids' activity known as "playing hooky".
Yesterday I was visiting with a man who had just finished a health screening for his employer. Since I had recently done a similar screening when joining a fitness club we both were shocked at how many questions deal with emotional health. I am deeply committed that much of what is treated as mental health or emotional health is integrally connected to spiritual health.
So, consider making the time for a one-day spiritual retreat. Below are some ideas from John Ortberg on the details of how to maximize the experience.
I was intimidated the first time I tried spending an entire day in solitude. Putting some structure on the day helps. Here are some suggestions.
Spend a brief time getting ready the night before. Ask God to bless the day, and tell him you want to devote the day to him. This day is your gift to God, but of course even more than that, it is a gift God wants to give to you. What do you need the Lord to give you: A sense of healing and forgiveness? Conviction for an apathetic heart? Compassion? A renewed sense of mission?
Arrange the day around listening to God. Here's a format I've adapted from Glandion Carney's book The Spiritual Formation Toolkit:
To read the actual schedule check out the link below.
I think all our readers would be delighted to hear your comments. When has a spiritual retreat benefited you? What obstacles do you face when thinking about taking a Personal Retreat Day?
How to Spend a Day Alone | Articles | BuildingChurchLeaders.com
No comments:
Post a Comment