Place Of Retreat / War Room is an article to explains the importance of spending time with God.
I looked up the word retreat in the dictionary:
Verb: retreat (of an army) withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat. Noun: 1. An act of moving back or withdrawing; 2. A signal for a military force to withdraw.
Whether you realize it or not you live in a real world, in a real battle with a real enemy who wants to destroy you.
“A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come so they may have life and have it in the fullest possible way.”
John 10:10 (RAD)
Do you have a place of retreat?
Long before the movie “War room” I grasped this truth and its importance to have a quiet place to have fellowship with God.
Before we moved to this house where I have a space I can call my prayer room I was not so fortunate to own such a luxury.
We lived in a small two-bedroom apartment on a farm (homestead) with one open plan bathroom in the main bedroom – I didn’t even have a bathroom door to close for some privacy.
I found an area with trees on the property where I would go and have fellowship with God.
I absolutely loved this place! So many times, I just sat there watching and listening to the birds and experiencing nature around me and it let me feel so close to God.
Then someone stole my chair where I sat and suddenly, I didn’t feel safe there anymore, winter was also approaching, and it was freezing cold out there.
Then I decided to set up a place for prayer in my doghouse. Don’t laugh! I had no privacy in the apartment that I shared with my husband and young son.
I had a big doghouse that had enough space for me to crawl into to pray, but that plan also failed.
My dogs also followed me there and wanted to crawl with me into their doghouse.
Also depending on the time of day the sun will either burn me out or it will be freezing cold or the mosquitos and insects wanted to carry me away.
My next plan was successful, I put my Bible, notebook, pens, and everything I know I will need for my prayer time in a bag and skillfully placed it in our bedroom.
When there was a quiet moment for me to withdraw from the household, I will find a suitable place to sit down.
I do not have adequate words to describe the impact this had on my personal as well as spiritual life.
What I experience in my place of retreat:
I experienced His tangible presence with me throughout the day, the Holy Spirit started ministering about stuff that needed to be changed in my routine that stole my time and a lot of obstacles and problems seemed to sort themselves out.
I experience His guidance in every area of my life and there also came a peacefulness upon me.
This is not a new invention or concept, but every child of God needs to spend time with their Father to build their relationship.
Any relationship and marriage are doomed to fail if the people involved do not spend time together.
For me personally, it is the oxygen I need to keep myself and my spiritual life alive, I just know that I cannot be one moment without God in my life.
Numerous times in the Bible Jesus withdraws from the people to spend time with His Father.
“During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God.”
Luke 6:12 (GSB)
When Jesus came back the next day, He chose His disciples! How powerful is this?
And this is what I also experienced in how He guided me in decisions I must make.
- Jesus was connected to His Father, before starting His ministry He spends time in the desert with prayer and fasting when he was tempted by satan. (Luke 4:1-2)
- When Jesus heard that John the Baptist was killed He went to His Father (Matthew 14:1-13)
- He also spends time alone with His Father before He was arrested (Luke 22:39-44).
God was His best friend, His Father, and His place of refuge. He was in close fellowship with His Father and chose to spend time with Him before He started His ministry, and also in times of grief and distress.
And you can experience it too if you have a place to retreat and have fellowship with Him.
You will get to know Him as your councilor, healer, advocate, friend and so many other attributes you need.
When you spend time with Him you can claim the beautiful promises of Psalm 91 for yourself and your loved ones.
You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of careif you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!”
Psalm 91 – The Message
What to do in your place of retreat?
This is where I –
- Write love letters to Him,
- Write prayers for my loved ones and stand in the gap for them through prayer,
- Spend time in His Word and Bible Study,
- Worship Him,
- Talk to Him and expose my innermost feelings to Him,
- Cry to Him,
- Have communion with Him and so much more.
This is not something difficult or complicated to achieve and please don’t put it on your bucket list as something to do before you die.
Just start!
Take the first step! Start with what you have where you are and do what you can.
Make the decision to spend time with Him and prepare beforehand.
Where will you go for your retreat with the Father?
What will you need?
If you don’t have a room with privacy like I did you can also pack a bag or box with your Bible, notebook, pen, etc., and place it somewhere where you can have quick access to it when needed.
A friend of mine got up early in the morning and close the bathroom door for time with her Father.
Ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you think about it.
For me personally, it added a lot of hours to my day when I got up early between 4 and 5 am.
It is quiet and there also are not so many disturbances as later in the morning or day.
Conclusion:
- “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they may have life and have it in the fullest possible way.” John 10:10
- Any relationship or marriage is doomed to fail if the persons involved do not spend time together.
- Jesus also withdrew Himself to spend time with His Father.
- You can claim the promises in Psalm 91 when you spend time with His presence.
- Decide beforehand what you will do in your place of retreat and do your preparations.
It is my sincere prayer that if you are not already in the habit of spending time with God that you will decide today to make it a daily habit.
Please share this article on social media to encourage others also to spend time with God and build a stronger relationship with God.
Everything in Him, unto Him, and to glorify His Holy Name!
This article was proofread by Grammarly.
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