[Ep 56] How to Create a Personal Spiritual Retreat (And Reflections on My Own)

Today I want to conclude a sort of mini-series about journaling and reflection with a reflection of my own, and it's going to center around a personal retreat I took a couple of weeks ago. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 27:8 (NLT), which says, "My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me.' And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming.'" And to me, that speaks of an invitation from God and spend time with Him, to talk with Him about what's weighing on my heart, and to hear what He might have to say back to me. So I want to share about my retreat with you, and then I'm going to take a few moments to reflect on it with you. But I want to do more than share about my own experience. I want to help you create a retreat experience of your own. As someone who is going through a difficult season, or as someone who is helping someone else through their difficult season, it is so incredibly important that we take extended time with God when we can. We need to be able to press pause, sort to speak, and linger with Him. To seek Him. To share our heart with Him. And to allow Him to share His heart with us. So let me start by walking you through my personal retreat day and offering some reflections on it, and then I'll provide you with some tips for creating a spiritual retreat of your own. Kari   >> Written Spiritual Direction: Recognize God's presence in your pain http://lovedoesthat.org/spiritualdirection   >> Soul Care Group: Monthly email with soul care practices http://lovedoesthat.org/soulcaregroup     RESOURCES MENTIONED: Episode 54: 4 Simple Ways to Start (or Keep) Journaling Episode 55: Reflection and Journaling as a Lifelong Practice with Business Strategist Elizabeth McCravy Caroline Williams Yoga: "Day 1: 30 Days of Yoga video" Kelly Minter's Bible Study on 2 Corinthians: "All Things New" Book: "The Well-Watered Woman" by Gretchen Saffles Shop: Tear Bottle Devotional from Celia Miller: "You Are Beloved" Shop: Retreat Guide: "When God Says No"     QUOTES AND BIBLE VERSES: "My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me.' And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming.'" (Psalm 27:8 NLT) "Retreat in the context of the spiritual life is an extended time apart for the purpose of being with God and giving God our full and undivided attention; it is, as Emilie Griffin puts it, 'a generous commitment to our friendship with God.'" (Ruth Haley Barton)