Coming Away Before You Come Apart

by Michael Fisk
(Osceola, WI 54020)

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

Jesus knew the importance of rest. One needs only to read through the gospels to see the number of times that Jesus went alone to the mountains to pray. It seemed to be a regular occurrence in the lives of the disciples.

The disciples had just returned from their first short-term missions trip. They were exhausted, excited and full of ‘spiritual adrenaline’.

Demon’s fled from Peter’s command. Andrew’s mere touch healed a young boy of his illness! Philip watched a blind man see his first tree!

Stories of God’s provision and power filled the air. But in the midst of the excitement, Jesus saw spiritually and emotionally tired men who were stressed and in need of rest. During a lull in the conversation Jesus suggests, ‘Come on. Let’s get away from here. We’ll catch some fish, have a good meal, let you guys get some rest.’

The American Institute of Stress states “it's hard to think of any disease in which stress cannot play an aggravating role or any part of the body that is not affected.” Stress isn’t just a physical enemy. It affects how we view ourselves, others and even God.

While no one is immune from the effects of stress, there are things we can do to lessen its impact. Taking care of ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually is the key to winning the war against stress.

Most of us know the importance of exercise in keeping healthy physically, but how many of us take the time to care for our emotional and spiritual health?

The best weapon against stress is to follow the example of our Lord Jesus and spend time alone with your Heavenly Father. Removing the distractions of our lives allows the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit to have your full attention and allows your body to fully relax in order to hear his voice.

If stress is affecting your outlook on life, relationships, ministry or God, taking a Personal Spiritual Retreat may be one of the best things you can do for yourself and those around you. PSR’s allow you the time to rest physically and listen to what God has to say to you as you seek personal spiritual renewal.

When Jesus called his disciples to a time of rest, it was while they were surrounded by people (ministry). Too many times we look around and think we’ll ‘get around to rest’ when the work is done. Jesus says to come away and rest awhile in the midst of the battle. It may be hard to admit but we aren’t invincible and the world will go on without us while we recharge our spiritual batteries.

Society tells that needing a rest is a sign of weakness, but looking at Jesus’ example, that simply can’t be true. God the Father rested after creation. Jesus calls us to rest. Enemy voices will tell you to press on, to be tough, to play hurt, but that isn’t God’s way.

God’s way is to enter life well rested, well equipped and well armed for battle. PSR’s prepare us for battle God’s way.

Rest is a sign of strength that says, “I can walk away and life will go on; I will not be replaced and even if I am, that change will not affect who I am in God’s eyes.

We also learn from Jesus that rest is temporary. We aren’t told how long the boat ride was across the lake, but Scripture tells us that while the disciples were enjoying the quiet ride across the lake a crowd was waiting for them on the other side! Our rest may be short-lived but it has a profound effect on our lives and the lives of those around us.

The rest we receive through PSR’s includes a healthy dose of reflection on life’s events and an honest evaluation or our responses to the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Here are some practical guidelines for your own Personal Spiritual Retreat.

1. Find a retreat center or other secluded place to have your PSR where you can commune with Him as you walk and God’s creation.

2. Consider ahead of time whether you will fast during the retreat. While fasting is a great opportunity to listen to what God has to tell you, if you are not used to fasting do some study on it before you take this step.

3. Consider what you will read during your PSR. While there are many excellent Christian books available for self-enrichment, the best book continues to be the Bible. Why read what others say about God when you can read what God says about you.

4. Prepare to journal. The PSR journal is not for publication and does not need to be read by anyone else. Journaling allows you to express your thoughts and feelings in ways that can’t be expressed in any other way.

5. Don’t pray. Talk to God instead. Don’t get into jargon and fancy ‘spiritual phrases’ that can keep you from complete honesty.

6. Finally, allow yourself to rest. Leave your cell phone, computer, and watch behind. Sleep when you are tired. Take walks. Smell the roses. Ask God to help you remove all the mental distractions that will insist on following you. This time is for you and God alone. Feel the intimacy of his spirit in your life in ways you may never have felt it before.

Jesus tells us that there will always be tribulation while we are here on earth. We can’t do anything to change that fact. Personal Spiritual Retreats are an excellent way to keep a spiritually healthy in a world where stress can attack you on every side.

© 2011 Michael D. Fisk: Director of Development and Marketing for the Association Retreat Center (www.arc-aflc.org) and President of Built with Grace ministries (www.builtwithgrace.com)