Retreat Yourself and Recharge Your Soul

A retreat can last an hour, a day, a week, or as long as we feel our souls need. The time we spend with God has no set limit. Jesus, too, needed time to spend in prayer: “He went up on the mountain by himself to pray” (Mt 14:23). God calls us to the silence as well so that we can focus and pray: “When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret” (Mt 6:6). That inner room is our heart, and in that inner room, we will find God.

God wants to listen to our concerns and troubles, and God is happy to hear our praise. God would even like to hear an occasional thank-you. Prayer is more than reciting a few words; it is listening to God and knowing that God is listening to us. We listen for the small, quiet voice of the Source of our life and wait for the guidance of the Spirit in our lives as we strive to follow Jesus. Once we commit to finding the space and time to be present to the Lord, we will begin to recognize God’s voice and find the willingness to be open to whatever God asks of us.

If we find ourselves in need of forgiveness or are wrestling with offering forgiveness to others, a retreat can be an occasion to ask for forgiveness or to give it. If we have an important decision looming in the near future, a retreat can offer the quiet and the space to discern and come to a decision. Some people use the quiet of a retreat to reconnect with their faith and with their God. Some need to be away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to find the balance and strength necessary to move forward in life. Like the psalmist cries, “[Where] can I go and see the face of God?” (42:3). The answer might be a retreat.