taking a 24-hour prayer retreat, part seven

7. retreat flow continued: variations and closure

This flow of worship, repentance, rest, listening, and intercession normally takes me to the end of my 24 hours. Occasionally, there is space for another nap, a long bath, or a few chapters of a favorite book.

Several times a year I take longer retreats:

• One 48-hour retreat is devoted to reviewing my previous year's personal inventory (a collection of prayerful goals spiritually, physically, relationally...for that year) and preparing the new year's inventory.
  
• Another 48-hour retreat is devoted to reviewing the year's journals and daytimer and gathering together words of wisdom, correction, stories for the kid's journals, and ideas for writing.
• Once a year I head out to a desert in Arizona for a 5-6 day retreat that's simply devoted to loving Jesus.
  

The final hour of a retreat is very precious to me. I try to savor it with quietness and a posture of love toward Jesus. I may take a walk with him or kneel at a favorite place of prayer.

Even as I pack and transition, I try to keep the retreat-mindset. I am not leaving the retreat, the retreat is coming with me! The quietness, the trust, the forgiveness, the re-centered peace...it does not stay behind in the B&B.

Like a good perfume, the retreat lingers. Barry always notices increased patience and joy in me when I return. I see the fruit in clarity of thought and a decrease in worry. Not too long ago, my dear 4 year old Keona asked me when she can begin taking prayer retreats!

14 years ago when I first started taking regular prayer retreats, I thought of them as a luxury. Now I know they are a necessity for me. My hope is that these thoughts on taking a retreat have been helpful for you.

Next week we'll start a new series! Feel free to email me with any ideas you have for topics: contact@truthportraits.com.