"I didn't believe I could go a whole day without eating. I was sure I would die!"

During our debriefing time over lunch on Saturday the conversation was lively. I had just taken another group through a time of spiritual retreat and they were sharing the impact of the last twenty-four hours on their lives. Everyone agreed: they had never given God such a large block of undivided attention and the experience had been a time of spiritual awakening.

With so many activities-- important ones seemingly -- clamoring for our time, spiritual retreat is a discipline seldom practiced. But in the hectic pace of our lives it may be one discipline most needed to restore a sense of balance and focus to our daily existence. Even Jesus, who had only three years to complete his Father's will while on earth, found it necessary to break his normal routine for a time of retreat (see Matt. 14:13, 15:21; Mark3:7; Luke 5:16).

How To Get Started

A spiritual retreat begins with the decision to devote a day alone with God. Get it on your daytimer and plan for it like you would any other major event in your life. Don't let anything keep you from keeping this appointment.

Having selected a date, the next thing to do is locate a motel where you can get away from the normal traffic pattern of your daily life. Look into an area about 45 - 60 minutes from your home. The feeling that you are getting away ("withdrawing" to quote the gospels) is important. The motel you select should be as inexpensive as possible. That will give you an austere setting. Such simplicity helps break the constant grip materialism has on us. Once you find the right place for your retreat, make your reservation and commit yourself to getting alone with God.

For your retreat you will need your Bible, a songbook, and a spiral notebook in which to write your thoughts and meditations.

What To Do

A key part of any retreat is fasting. In fasting we learn to accept suffering while feasting on God. It reminds us throughout the day that we are breaking with the physical side of life to work on our spiritual side.

Begin your fast at noontime. If this is a workday for you, the hunger pains you experience in the afternoon will remind you of your upcoming time with God and will help you anticipate that experience.

Once you are checked into your motel, you are ready to begin. The following schedule with annotations provides guidelines on how to use your time during this retreat.

7:00 p.m.

"Spend this first hour writing in your journal. Recall your spiritual pilgrimage, what you can remember about the day you became a Christian, and the people who significantly impacted your life. Chart the highs and lows of your spiritual walk. Be sure to include comments about your feelings along the way."

Many believers have never taken the time to see their lives in the big picture. By recording your own story, you will begin to see how God has been working in the events of your life to shape you into the image of Jesus Christ. This autobiography brings your life into sharper focus, helping you see God in your life where you often failed to see Him at the time.

"Spend this hour in confession. Be specific. Name people you have offended. Tell God of the failures that still haunt your memory. Detail sins of omission and commission. Toward the end of the hour, slowly read Psalm 51, written by David after his terrible sin with Bathsheba. Make as many of the words of the Psalm as possible your own, telling the Lord how you identify with David. Then go in deep imagination to the Cross. See Jesus dying for you there. Talk to Him about grief over your sin and hear His word of forgiveness to you. Thank Him for his grace and forgiveness."

For most folks this is the most difficult hour of the retreat. The idea of spending an hour confessing sins seems incredible. But after you have gotten past the "big" sins, the Spirit of God can begin to bring back all the lesser sins that you have failed to acknowledge and failed to deal with in your life.

This time of cleansing and healing is crucial to entering into God's presence. If you have difficulty naming your sins, just sit quietly in the Lord's presence and ask Him to bring back to your mind any unconfessed sins you need to deal with. You may be surprised at the results.

"Spend this hour in praise to Jesus Christ. Name as many of his attributes as you can and tell Him why you are grateful He is that kind of God. Chant some of the Psalms: 47, 48, 93, 103, 148. You are alone; be uninhibited in your adoration of your Savior. You may want to look through your hymnal and sing some of your favorite hymns. This is a time to celebrate Jesus!"

Praising God is a lost art in the contemporary church, only recently being rediscovered. We are adept at asking God for things; it is much harder to offer up simple praise. But through this time of praise you open up your heart to God and reaffirm his worth to you.

Chanting is probably new to you. lt simply means to create your own rhythmic pattern in reading the psalms. The Psalter is, after all, a hymn book of prayers. And by developing our own chant for each psalm, we get in touch with the emotions of the psalmist.

When you sing from your hymnal, change the words from third person to second person. Don't sing about God; sing to God! Don't sing: "To God Be the Glory," but 'To You Be the Glory!' Speak directly to Jesus in your adoration of him for he is with you during this retreat.

"You have had a long day. For the balance of the evening until you retire, do the following two things. First, begin reading aloud slowly. Put yourself in the stories. Hear the voices; see the action; feel the emotions. Look for details you have never seen before.

"Secondly, begin recording in your journal specific needs you want to pray for tomorrow. Start an intercession list of names and special requests."

Many Christians have never read through an entire gospel in one or two sittings. But to do so is a powerful encounter with the life of Jesus. Fresh insights come. A sharper vision of His ministry comes into focus. As you read and reflect on Jesus' life, record in your journal any new insights you gain.

The gospel stories intersect your own life at various points. Here is an opportunity to make notes of things to pray about in your own life: struggles with materialism, anger, disappointment, self-control and the like.

"Begin your prayer time this morning with Psalm 145, changing the words to pray directly to God rather than about him. Worship in song for a few minutes. Then use the rest of the hour praying for your congregation. Spend time praying for each elder and staff member by name."

Praying for each elder and staff member generally reveals how little we know our leaders and their individual needs. This is an opportunity to grow in compassion for those who shoulder the responsibility for leading the church.

"During this hour focus on praying for your missionaries and the people they are converting."

We tend to know even less about our missionaries. This time can sensitize us to learning more about their ministries so we pray more powerfully for them in the future.

If you do not know enough mission works to fill the hour, pray for other congregations in your area in their efforts to reach their community with the gospel.

"Spend this hour reading in one of the gospels. Read slowly and aloud. Use your imagination as creatively as possible to enter into the stories. Record any insights you get, ideas for things you want to pray about, promptings of the Spirit about things in your own life you need to work on.

This meditative reading of the gospels is an opportunity to listen to God speak to our hearts about our own condition before Him. Often as we work slowly through the various stories, the Spirit will reveal attitudes and actions in our lives that need special attention.

"During this final session, do the following two things. First, pray from the intercession list that you have been making in your journal.

"Secondly, spend some time in quiet contemplation of your personal ministry as a Christian. Record in your journal reflections on where you are in your spiritual pilgrimage. Identify specific areas you want to work on during the next six months."

Use this reflection time to think through such questions as: Am I really growing as a Christian? How do I know that I have been developing in my personal spirituality across the years? What impact have I had on others? Where are my greatest sin battles? What have I been in denial about before God? What do I want to do during the next year to ensure spiritual growth?

Also take some time to reflect on the past 24 hours. How has this time of solitude and prayer impacted you? How did you feel about it? Why do you think you feel that way? Did you fast? If so, how did it affect you during this time of prayer and reflection?

This is a critical time in your retreat. Writing has a way of focusing our thoughts, forcing us to think deeply as we seek to express our thoughts and feelings. Do not slight this exercise.

A Final Thought

I suggest that groups of Christians go away on retreat together, each with their own room. At noon come out of your rooms, go to a local restaurant and break your fast together. Over lunch share your experience during the past 24 hours. There will be a bonding that intensifies your own commitment to continue growing in your spiritual walk with Jesus.

Spiritual retreats don't just happen. Besides the constant attacks of Satan to sidetrack our lives, the world offers us plenty to fill our schedules. So we have to make time.

God will bless you as you do this. And soon you will be wondering, "Why haven't I done this before?"