(Wielding The Warhead of Personal Retreats for A Lifestyle of Conquest)
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
In the first book of The Chronicles of Narnia, literary scholar C.S. Lewis stokes young minds with vivid imagery, a well-woven plot, and insidious danger as he guides readers through enrapturing, adventure- filled enchantment and intrigue. The four sibling protagonists – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy – encounter a time-altered world where mystical creatures and animals interact easily with humans and enjoy with them escapades of epic proportions. This enthralling and mysterious alternate reality is accessed through none other than a wardrobe in an ordinary home.
In Narnia, readers learn about the ongoing battle between the wicked White Witch and the rightful ruler, Aslan the lion. With the help of talking animals, mythical creatures, and their own courage, the siblings embark on a quest to defeat the White Witch and free Narnia from her icy grip. Along the way, they encounter excitement, danger, and valuable life lessons. It has captivated generations of readers and continues to be a beloved classic in the realm of children’s literature. Lewis does not deny the fact that the series are representative of the parallel spiritual life of a believer of Jesus Christ, with Aslan being a direct representation of the sacrificing, saving and conquering Jesus, the wicked White Witch and her cronies representative of satan and his dark forces of evil, and the children and their involvement and partnership with Aslan representative of the relationship between Jesus and those He saves, the role of the latter in the destruction of satan’s schemes and plans, and Jesus’ redemptive power despite the decadence and destruction surrounding satan’s wicked grip over God’s creation.
The concept of the prayer closet is well known and promoted within Christian circles as a primary game-changing agent. Since its original and inferred references in Matthew 6:6-7 and others (e.g. 2 Kings 4:33; 1 Kings 18:41-45), the theme remains a widely circulated concept and is no less potent in impact today. The closet or wardrobe is that secret place of prayer that grants access to the world of the supernatural where evil can be conquered, wrongs can be righted, and the real/supreme ruler of the realm acknowledged, manifest to all, and His great purposes and power released to prevail in the lives of His beloved subjects. Personal retreats connote specially designated or prolonged periods in those prayer wardrobes. The wardrobe grants access to the unseen realm where the wicked white witch of the kingdom of darkness is forced to surrender in defeat, the will of God is secured, and our destiny amended or advanced to reflect heaven’s original plan. Herein lies the allegorical poignancy of this bestselling classic.
Nuts & Bolts
Personal retreats are exactly that – personal, so are inherently individualized and highly customizable to each intent and need. That said, each retreat should have a predetermined purpose, process, posture, and duration (all subject to the leading of God’s Spirit Who may change any or all of these at any point during the encounter), for example, a person may decide to journey to a hotel or retreat center at different city to seek God’s guidance concerning a particular matter. Another may decide to stay alone at home for a “shut-in” where they determine to stay indoors for the duration, shut off all forms of communication, and seek deeper intimacy with the Lord, asking nothing of Him other than to know Him more. Still another may go on a solo road trip to a remote mountain or cabin in the woods where they can connect with their Maker through the beauty of nature and just worship and bask in His presence till they encounter Him in a fresh way. A parent of precocious toddlers or other young children may not have the luxury of a few days to get away, but may take a few a hours at a quiet park, deserted beach, or other place of solitude to press into God for a few hours. One person may feel led to ardent, persistent prayer and supplication for the duration of their retreat, while another may worship for the duration. Another may spend most of his or her time in praise or in studying the Word, while others may enjoy a combination of all of these at varying times during the retreat. For example, at the inception of the year, I experienced a “silent” shut-in where the entirety of my time with the Lord was spent in complete silence, flat on my face before Him and with the lights out each night when darkness fell. Though the methodology was totally uncanny (in my opinion at least), unplanned, and unprecedented, it was completely Spirit-directed, and so it concluded in unprecedented encounters and yielded unprecedented results.
The intensity and duration of each retreat may also vary. As a general rule, all retreats should be embarked upon with great passion, purpose and focus. This is of course determined by a person’s heart condition; I find that a person’s level of desperation greatly determines the outcome of each encounter with God. Passionate pursuit usually results in a tangible response from heaven, wether immediately visible or by indelible heart inscriptions, convictions and conscription. On the other hand, casual or religious dalliances usually result in energy expended with little results, eventually leading to frustration and disincentivization. It is often said that desperate people do desperate things; if one wants something they have never had, they have got to do something they have never done. This is why passionate intensity in the place of prayer and personal retreats is foundational to obtaining desired outcomes. The Bible portrays an interesting perspective of this in Proverbs 27:7; I encourage every reader to examine this juxtaposed against similar verses (e.g Psalms 42; 63, etc.) to fully grasp God’s stance in this regard.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention that most personal retreats are accompanied by the spiritual discipline of fasting, which facilitates focus, intensity, and a heart posture readied and responsive to perceive God’s often still, small voice. While the norm, this should by no means become a forced practice if an individual feels led to do otherwise in any particular encounter.
Suggested Approach
- Define & document your goals for the retreat
- Journal (your thoughts, pertinent prayers/points, scriptures and Words or other inspiration from the Lord). I strongly suggest that this is done in an actual journal designated for this purpose (i.e your prayer journal) verses just jotting down such treasures on random sheets of paper that will likely get lost.
- Review your journal entries periodically to keep them fresh in your mind ad heart. This helps to set and maintain a life compass that directs and keeps you on track with purpose.
- Implement immediately (unless otherwise instructed) any ideas, instructions, inspirations, thoughts, etc. that God gives to you during the course of the retreat.
- Incorporate retreats into your lifestyle
Suggested Activities
- Worship – pour out your love on Him
- Bask/Wait/Be Still – to allow Him to pour His love, grace, strength, wisdom, etc. back into you either through the words of the songs or in utter silence/stillness/meditation (biblical meditation means to think deeply on and review God’s Word repeatedly in your mind, words and songs of worship/praise the way cattle thoroughly chew, regurgitate and chew their food again until the nutrients are totally broken down and absorbed by their bodies and put to good use)
- Meditate (see God’s definition of meditation above) on kickoff Scriptures based on purpose of the retreat, e.g., Isaiah 58, Psalms 23, 42, 62, 63, 139, etc., Philippins 3, etc.
- Pray
- Journal (see above)
- Read godly books on the topic(s) for which you are seeking God
- Incorporate and implement any immediate instructions He gives
- Repeat in the order of your choice for the duration of the retreat
As you embark upon the lifelong adventure of personal retreats, you will become a lethal weapon against the kingdom of darkness and experientially know retreats, enjoy the surrender and capitulation of your enemies, and revel in a lifetime of fulfilled destiny and purpose!
(Jeremiah 51:20-26)
Retreat Resources
Retreat Centers Across The Globe
Hephzibah House, New York, NY, U.S.A.
51 W 75th St, New York, NY 10023
Phone: (212) 787-6150
Fellowship Deaconry Retreat Center, Liberty Corner, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Address: 3575 Valley Rd, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Hephzibah Christian Centre, Aburi Peduase (near Accra), Ghana
Phone: +233 050 48 29947; +233 054 50 05460
The Trinity’s Threshold, Ibadan, Nigeria
Address: Ore-Ofe 2, Balogun Village, Off Olorunda-Abba Road, Akobo
Phone: +234 803 201 2836
Retreathood (An online compendium of U.S.A.-based Retreat Centers)
Note: This global list of retreat centers is extremely underrepresented; it simply lists a few centers that are personally known and vetted, owned and operated, or come highly recommended by trusted individuals or organizations. A plethora of other retreat centers exist across the globe.
Books
Waiting on God by Andrew Murray
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis
Drawing Near by John Bevere
A Hunger for God by John Piper
*Victory in the Wilderness/God Where Are You?! by John Bevere
The Knowledge of The Holy by A.W. Tozer
Practicing The Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
Note: This list is obviously non-exhaustive and represent just a few of the many Christian classics written by men and women of great spiritual depth. They have been vetted and have had a life-defining impact on many. Some are old classics and may be found in altered formats. If you are inexperienced in the practice of personal retreats, it is strongly recommend that you read at least two of these or books of similar spiritual depth so you can fan the flames and facilitate the “spirit” of personal retreats getting a hold of you. Like any mind-altering substance, you’ll be hooked for life!!
*Originally printed under this title and later the other
Retreat-Related Media Messages
How to Plan A Personal Retreat (Joshua Selman)
Maximizing Personal Retreats (Joshua Selman)
The Secret Place (Joshua Selman)
Experiencing Personal Revival (Joshua Selman)
Waiting on the Lord (Arome Osayi)
God’s Positioning System ({7-part series} – Kingsley Okonkwo)
God’s Positioning System – Part 2 (Kingsley Okonkwo)
God’s Positioning System – Part 3 (Kingsley Okonkwo) … etc. (parts 4-7 also available on Youtube)
Understanding The Power of Fasting (Myles Munroe)
Understanding The Process of Fasting by (Myles Munroe)
Prayer & Fasting Consecration (Myles Munroe)
