OPEN HEAVENS Devotional – Wednesday February 3rd 2016
TOPIC: REVIVAL THROUGH RETREAT
Memorize: Wilt thou not receive us again: that thy people
may rejoice in thee? Psalm 85:6
Read: 1st Kings 19:4-8,
4 But he himself went a day's journey
into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he
requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord,
take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper
tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a
cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and
drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the Lord came
again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the
journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink,
and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb
the mount of God.
Bible in one year: Matthew 23:37-25:30, Job 15:7-21
MESSAGE
All human beings have an intense desire to connect to
God. One vital element that is required to connect to God is a nice quiet
atmosphere, devoid of daily concerns, where one can ruminate over spiritual
truths. Meanwhile, it is often difficult to create such within the unrelenting
activities of one’s daily life. This is why a retreat comes in handy. A
spiritual retreat could be defined as a sustained period of quiet,
uninterrupted time for a person to be reflective and receptive in God’s
presence. It offers a time to leave daily concerns, to connect with one’s
spiritual self, and to be attractive to the needs of one’s soul and spirit.
People seeking for a time of retreat often locate a retreat centre or a
specific geographical place that offers an atmosphere conductive for quiet
reflection. The search for spiritual retreat has taken many to Prayer Mountains
and remote solitary places.
Mount Carmel is best known as the site of Elijah’s battle
against the prophets of Baal. However, the fact that Elijah and Elisha
frequently returned to Mount Carmel is an indication that they were using the
mountain for spiritual retreat. The overall purpose of a spiritual retreat is
to be transformed in whatever manner God chooses. Withdrawing to a place of
spiritual retreat offers a time for refreshment and nourishment of life, a time
to experience a continual sense of God’s presence that could become a constant
reality in everyday life. Acts 3:19 says,
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins
may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence
of the Lord”
Therefore, a time of spiritual retreat is a time for
sober reflection, repentance, rededication, revival and rejuvenation. The book
of 1stKings 18:20-46 showed us the structure and pattern of a
spiritual retreat. First, Elijah rebuilt the ruined altar to Yahweh,
symbolising repentance and rededication of Israel to God. Then, he dug a trench
around the altar and poured 12 jars of water on the sacrifice, the wood, and
the altar, filling the trench, symbolising the activities of the Spirit.
Finally, he called on Yahweh, who answered immediately by fire that consumed
the whole sacrifice, including the water, the wood, and the stones of the
altar. This was immediately followed by heavy rains after three and half years
of drought. There was great celebration as the people rejoiced in the Lord for
a time of refreshing. A spiritual retreat always leads to celebration.
A spiritual retreat is also used a pursue personal
holiness and to stay connected to God. Several passages in the Gospels
according to Saint Mark and Matthew, give the account of Jesus retreating to
pray. This points out the importance of spiritual retreating to Christians.
Every child of God, as a matter of necessity, must constantly create time for
spiritual retreat, seeking the face of the Lord for cleansing, renewal,
re-dedication, and spiritual empowerment
Prayer Point:
Father, please revive me again, that I may experience a
time of refreshing from above in Jesus’ name.
No comments:
Post a Comment