By Brenda Jank
If you missed last week’s post, be sure to read it here to learn why personal retreats are so valuable…so vital!”
There are three kinds of personal retreats: offensive, defensive and forced.
Offensive Retreat
Jesus was the poster child for offensive retreats. Time away with his Father was planned, prioritized and routine. He recognized the importance of getting away off the beaten path and he was known to ‘head for the hills.’ Take a look at the book of Luke in the New Testament. Start with 5:15. Then visit 4:1, 14 & 42. Finish up with 6:12-13, 9:18, 11:1 and 22:39. Jesus was a man of retreat.
Defensive Retreat
The story of John the Baptist’s beheading speaks to us of our need for defensive personal retreats. Matthew 14:13 tells us that when Jesus received the devastating news of his cousin’s death, he withdrew from the hubbub, taking a boat by himself to a solitary place. Although we don’t know what Jesus was feeling, I think it’s safe to make some guesses. Jesus’ heart was heavy. He was sad, angry, aching. He desired to get away. He needed focused time with his Father.
Ever felt that way? Don’t resist the urge to pull away.
Forced Retreat
Jonah’s three-day stint in the belly of a large fish is probably one of the most unique personal retreats in the history of the world. I can’t quite imagine the stink and the slime he found there. There’s not too many travel brochures for that particular destination. Truth is – God likes to whisper, but if he can’t get our attention he’s been known to throw a brick. I’ll take a whisper over a brick any day, but forced personal retreats are good at grabbing our attention.
He’s grabbed mine.
“Retreat!”
Will you choose an offensive retreat this fall?
Get your red pen. Pick a day. Pick a half a day. Pick two hours.
Write it in blood.
Stay tuned as we’ll cover the basic “how tos” of retreating.
Be ready for some surprises.
When was your last retreat?
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Note: This post is Post #21 of our original series on rest and restoration. We are reposting some of our favorite articles because we believe they’re just as important today as ever. We hope you’re challenged to think of rest in a fresh, new way and will invite others to join in.
Brenda Jank and the Run Hard. Rest Well. team are thought leaders in the arena of Restorative Wellness. Find additional resources at www.RunHardRestWell.org. Contact us at: Brenda@runhardrestwell.org