Text 1292, 233 rader
Skriven 2006-08-25 02:04:02 av Bob Hoffman (8:8/2)
Ärende: Food and Rest
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Faith's Checkbook  

Charles H. Spurgeon
Aug 24, 2006

 

August 25 




Food and Rest 

"I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the LORD God"
(Ezekiel 34:15). 

Under the divine shepherdry saints are fed to the full. Theirs is not a windy,
unsatisfying mess of mere human "thought," but the LORD feeds them upon the
solid, substantial truth of divine revelation. There is real nutriment for the
soul in Scripture brought home to the heart by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself
is the true life sustaining Food of believers. Here our Great Shepherd promises
that such sacred nourishment shall be given us by His own self. If, on the
LORD's Day, our earthly shepherd is empty-handed, the LORD is not. 

When filled with holy truth the mind rests. Those whom Jehovah feeds are at
peace. No dog shall worry them, no wolf shall devour them, no restless
propensities shall disturb them. They shall lie down and digest the food which
they have enjoyed. The doctrines of grace are not only sustaining but
consoling: in them we have the means for building up and lying down. If
preachers do not give us rest, let us look to the LORD for it. 

This day may the LORD cause us to feed in the pastures of the Word and make us
to lie down in them. May no folly and no worry but meditation and peace mark
this day. 
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How To Spend A Day In Spiritual Retreat (c) by Chris R. Bullard  Church Growth
Magazine 10 (July - September, 1995): 3 - 5. 

"A spiritual retreat begins with the decision to devote a day alone with God." 

"I've never felt so close to God in all my life."  "Why haven't we done this
before?"  "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. 

8:00 p.m. 
"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. 

9:00 p.m. 
"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. 

10:00 p.m. 
"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. 

7:00 a.m. 
"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. 

8:00 a.m. 
"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. 

9:00 a.m. 
"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. 

l0:00 a.m. 
"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?" 





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