Last week, I got to do something I’ve been aching to do for a few years. I spent a week by myself in the most incredible setting. It’s a place I’ve been to many times before with family and friends. It’s a special place that invites the mind to slow down and the soul to open up.
I know many of us get busy and we don’t get intentional about focused time away. Trust me, I’m no expert, and this is especially true of church planters. Plain and simple, church planters are a busy breed with active minds and spirits. Since I have a heart for church planters, I wanted to pass on what I learned and did during my “personal retreat.” My real hope is that you plan on doing something similar, even if for a couple days. Trust me, you’ll come back more passionate, focused and energized for the adventure ahead!
As you read this, take a second to answer these three questions:
1. Where is perfect place for me to go?
2. When can I go (I suggest at least three days)?
3. What do I need to do right now to make this happen?
Find the perfect place: Setting and environment are everything. Go somewhere amazing, find a place conducive to what you want to experience. Find a place where few people roam. Look for a setting where you can walk, hike and enjoy what God has created. The bottom line is, the setting and environment you choose will give you a space and place to unplug and accomplish your “agenda.”
Create an agenda: That’s right, an agenda. Not a minute-by-minute agenda, but be certain of what you want to accomplish each day. Set goals and objectives for your time away. Don’t try to do much and don’t show up without any idea or direction of what you hope to accomplish. An agenda will keep you focused and balanced.
Kill the distractions: Go ahead and tweet a captive thought, text a friend, call your family, etc. At the same time, put boundaries in place that will keep you from distraction and help you stay focused. For example, I didn’t watch television once. I did bring two movies with me to watch; movies that touched the heart, movies I chose ahead of time and integrated into my overall experience.
Ask people to pray for you: This is huge. Ask people to pray for you. The enemy doesn’t want us to be intentional and focused on what can be experienced on a personal retreat like this.
Shut off the treadmill: My mind spins really fast! I’m always thinking about new things, ideas and ways to advance the Kingdom. STOP! Work hard at slowing things down and keeping the mind from spinning. Pace and peace of the mind is everything, slowing things down is a discipline, and discipline is vital to your success at this!
