Do You Need A Retreat
Mark 6:32-32, 46 (NLT) 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s
go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going
that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. 32 So
they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.
46 After telling everyone good-bye, He went up into the hills by
Himself to pray.
Have you ever felt like there was so much going
on, or had so many people coming and going that you felt as though you couldn’t
catch a breath? We are NOT supposed to live in that feeling non-stop,
continually, day after day. Long periods of time doing this, will wear us down.
We WILL need rest. A better word for a busy person might be needing an “escape”.
I guess I ‘knew’ that Jesus got away and went to
solitary places to pray… I just didn’t realize that He did it a LOT! Even when
He was in high demand! He realized that time with the Father being rejuvenated and
refreshed was VERY important! Heck! He is God’s Son – and if He needed to ‘get
away’ – then those of us who are mere humans, would need it even more!
I think back to times when I had a young
daughter, and she had several friends. I didn’t really understand this concept
very well. I seemed to always have a busy house. Kids over all of the time. I
think that was my entrance into living in chaos LOL Add in a few more kids,
work, church, school, outside activities… and WOWZERS! It can all be a bit
overwhelming.
What struck me, is that we NEED to get away, and
spend “alone time” with Jesus. Being refreshed by our Father. Filled up by the
Holy Spirit. When we are too busy to spend time alone with our Father, our
Brother, our Soul – then we miss out on being filled with peace. Now, the
scriptures don’t tell us “how long” Jesus went away to be alone and pray and I
can only gather by reading, that it varied. As they were walking through fields
of grain, I believe He was alone in His thoughts and prayers (Mark 2:23) even
though He was walking with the disciples. Or when He was walking by a lake
(Mark 2:13), He made the best use of that quiet place and time to spend it in
prayer with God. Shoot! Even after He was in the desert tempted by the devil
for 40 days, Jesus went to a solitary place (Mark 1:35).
The thing is, if we have a regular healthy habit
of ‘getting away to spend time with Jesus’ then we can actually be “recharged”
in a short amount of time. Jesus did this. He encouraged His disciples to do
it. We should be doing it too!
“Lisa Marie, you don’t understand! I do not have
even ONE minute to myself through the day! Not even to go to the bathroom, how
can I have these ‘moments with Jesus’ and be refreshed! There is NOT enough
time in the day!”
Well,
I say to take it from Jesus. When He was in crowds or with the disciples, He
would be “in the moment” and get some time with God. Yes, it was actually
usually in the middle of doing normal things. When they were traveling, walking
from place to place, in a boat doing something, in the middle of a crowd…
Well, this got me to thinking of my day, and
when, where or how I could have a few moments with God to be refreshed. I
understand that I do not have a house full of kids or people, but I still find
it hard to “sneak away” and get time alone. However, I DO see that I CAN
several times in my day! First: while I am driving. I have at least 15 minutes,
normally 25 minutes on the drive to work. Second: I could even do it while
walking with others on our way into the building to the elevators. Once at my
desk, there are several times I need to go to the electronic equipment for
things. Third: while I am scanning, faxing, or even putting files together in
their folder – I could be having a moment with God. Next: every time I need to
take files to other floors, bingo! Time alone in my head in the elevator, or on
the stairs. Then of course on breaks and then on the way home in the car (which
normally takes even longer than in the morning). Ok, so once you are home with
the family, it can be a bit more challenging. There is time while cooking,
cleaning, dressing, sitting and watching the kids… The thing is – it doesn’t
have to be a “retreat” to be a ‘retreat’ LOL
I believe with all of my heart, that Jesus is our
example and we really DO need to get away, alone, and spend time with Him.
However, sometimes in our busy world, a ‘retreat’ is just a few moments in the
shower or using the restroom. That’s ok! It could even be while walking the
dog, or on the way to the park with the kids… That old saying just popped into
my head: we need to make time each day to pray, because we won’t have time each
day to pray (there is a poem/story).
Today, I encourage you to find a few moments to
just breathe. To ask God to breath His Spirit into you, and refresh you in the
few quick moments you find alone with Him. Ask to be filled up, refreshed,
renewed. He will not let you down! Yes, you may have to sneak away soon and do
it again, but that’s ok – you are then drawing on His strength, and not your
own ;-) Everyone needs a ‘retreat’ to find rest and peace and joy – yes, we can
get it in short quick moments in our day – look for them and then you will find
them and you WILL find rest! Be well, be safe today, and be blessed beyond
measure! Your 'retreat' is waiting ;-)
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