Sharing helpful info for those preparing prayer retreats

Cynthia Bezek June 4, 2010 11:58

Great question, Judy! I like your questions, and am glad you are starting this discussion because I think prayer retreats are a huge blessing to God's people--He wants to meet us and refresh us and pour into us if only we can make space for Him.

I've had more experience with personal prayer retreats than with corporate ones, even though I currently lead corporate prayer retreats. I was trying to think if I've EVER been on a corporate prayer retreat that I did not lead. I think I have not been. Not sure what to make of that! But anyhow, that answers your first set of questions.

Currently I lead prayer retreats for church groups, parachurch groups, and non-related individuals coming for a retreat at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs. I also lead prayer retreats for the prayer ministry at my home church.

The retreats at Glen Eyrie (called "Deeper") are very purposeful: I try to teach people some basic hearing-from-God skills so that they can get alone with Him throughout the weekend and hear Him speak personally to their hearts. In this way each retreat is very personal because He speaks to them and meets them where they are.

For other retreats, I ask God what He wants to do and be for the specific group of people who will be there. Often He will bring to mind a specific Scripture or gift or purpose or skill He wants to give to people and then He and I talk about how to share that with them and how to structure the time.

Currently I am working with Him on how to do a prayer retreat for our church prayer ministry. We sense Him leading us to teach more people at our church how to listen for His voice--so we have set aside a time to listen to Him together for how He wants us to invite others into this deeper relationship with Him.

Currently I am also working with a prayer leader from another church in another state about how to lead a prayer retreat for her church prayer team. God has already spoken to her about His purposes for the time (Amaze them with My goodness; Lavish My love on them; Let them know I am carrying their burdens; Reveal to them the new things I am doing). I will spend time with God this weekend asking Him HOW He wants to do these things. Specific Scriptures to meditate upon? Questions to ask Him and listen for His response? Prayer themes? Activities such as foot washing or communion? I don't know what He'll share with me, but guaranteed, it will be creative and personal and rich. It always is.

So, in this long ramble, I guess I'm trying to say that each prayer retreat is unique and personal because I am always seeking to let God be the Leader. He is passionate about helping His people enjoy extended time with Him, so He is very invested in helping those of us who seek Him to help accomplish this!

Judy Secor > Cynthia Bezek June 4, 2010 16:21

Now let's see who else is out there with helps for beginners.
I love your answers, and would like to recommend Craig Lockwood to you, since he led the Vineyard Anaheim's first Prayer Retreat for Intercessors. It was the first such retreat I'd been on, and it was powerful for all involved. He also let all church prayer ministries including all night prayer watches. He had great variety, so we were not in any rut or stuck at any time. And the intimacy with God was awesome. You might want to look him up on FB.

Christie Russell August 14, 2010 21:53

I have never been on a prayer retreat. I know the church I now attend had them in the past, but haven't in the last 4 years. We are, however, doing a Wednesday night series on how to pray for physical and inner healing.

Judy Secor > Christie Russell September 3, 2010 0:24

Ask God and then ask your church for them to provide a prayer retreat. Here's praying you get that blessing soon.

Judy Secor September 3, 2010 18:51

If we broaden this topic we may get better insights;
So ... who of you have found wonderful results from &/or ways of having individual prayer retreats?
For how long, how often, and where are your favorite spots?

Jenni Biegler > Judy Secor October 23, 2010 18:46

I have gone on many individual prayer retreats--it's a necessity for me. I live close to wilderness areas so I don't have to go far to be alone. I've gone to secluded cabins, a Catholic retreat center, and a motel on the ocean. God usually draws me and already has an agenda for something that He's working on, so I don't have to plan much. However, there have been times when I wasn't sure what I was going to do on my retreat but I wanted to give the Holy Spirit every opportunity to speak to me, so I brought a Bible, a journal, colored pencils, a cd player and some praise/worship music, a list of things that had been on my mind that I could "dump" on paper and not be bothered by. For me, there's always a mixture of praying, weeping, listening, yielding, and celebrating. These times have yielded answers to prayer, instructions for the future, gift of increased faith and peace, and more.
I have fasted during some of these. The longest that I can usually afford time away from life stuff is 3 days.

You posted this a while ago, have you had a personal prayer retreat yet?

Paul Haden September 10, 2010 22:19

#1 We had regular times of staff prayer and occasional one day retreats when I was with NALCPL in Colorado Springs. These were always good and very beneficial.

#2 I planned a retreat for our church last March. We had times of praise & worship, teaching, corporate and individual prayer, prayer for the needs of individuals and just time for meditation. For meals, we served sandwiches for the evening meal on Friday and just had fruits, etc. available all day Saturday. It was a great time of prayer and fellowship except it was cut short by unexpected snow -- in March -- in southern Oklahoma (???)!

#3 I am in process of planning another retreat for the 2nd week-end of this coming November. This will be held at a small camp north of Tishomingo, OK. I think the format will be similar to the above except we will have open forum discussion over the 12th chapter of I Corinthians and things related to the manifestations of the Spirit in place of teaching.

If you would like to attend, please contact me by email and I will give you all of the details. Tishomingo is about 2 ½ hours south and east of Oklahoma City, OK or the same north east of Dallas

Judy Secor > Paul Haden September 11, 2010 14:15

Thanks for the invite, but I live on the West Coast.
Your retreats sound like they would facilitate much freedom and creativity, which is truly helpful.
Still curious about individual prayer retreats.
I love the chapter in Navigator's Growing Strong in God's Family workbook written by Lorne Sanny on How to Spend A Day In Prayer.
Still like to know other's best practices, tools and insights.

Judy Secor October 23, 2010 19:26

Hi Jenni,
Wow, yours was the most recent post yet is hidden among the others in no particular order?!
Yes, I've been on many personal prayer retreats, some at home in back yard, some in desert, some in forest by my cabin.
The desert one by Romoland, CA has a Korean Pentecostal Prayer Retreat Center open (suggested donation about $30/night) to all Christians who want to pray and fast. It has bunks & toilet, bring your own everything (no food). I enjoy their Bible studies & worship services too.
I particularly am pleased that you spelled out what you do on your personal prayer retreats. That is very similar to what I do as well. The resource I quoted from the Navigators' Lorne Sanny article spells out how to do most of that for beginners. It was most empowering for me when I first started.
Like Cindy, I've designed and led prayer retreats and was a conference speaker for a Christian camping organization one year. Still I want to learn much more from those who just go be with God, never mind being visible in the church.
I believe it's the 'faceless' (hidden) pioneers of the faith that pave the way for the rest of us. So it would be a joy to hear from some of them too. Most of these people are too humble to think they have anything to offer, but if they do as you did, spelling it out; who knows, we may find some wonderful fresh ideas for going closer, deeper, wider, higher, more committed to God.
If anyone reads this and has been following this, but has not offered their insights, I pray you will share too.

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