Retreat

<<pull back>>

This is a withdrawing and historically it was usually because of being defeated in battle (1 Sam 17:51).

In conflicts, there is an emotional withdrawal when the spirit is wounded. With relationships it is a humiliating time when a person draws back and is vulnerable to negative emotions – because what they had confidence in was shattered, exposing the frailness of the things of this earth. When our dreams fail to eventuate, we have to draw back from some activity, or involvement we should be careful not to retreat from God. Take your hurts to Him for He cares for you. Be confident of His purposes for you (Jer 29:11; 1 Pet 5:7).

Conversely, we should remove ourselves from temptation or compromising situations, even literally running if necessary as Joseph did (Gen 39:6-12).

A spiritual retreat is time given over to a period of prayer and meditation, reconnecting with God away from the busyness and pressures of everyday life, and often done in solitude, with significant life changing interaction taking place (Ps 71:3). Jesus frequently withdrew from people to lonely

What do I need to regularly ‘take a break’ from, for my own benefit?

places so He could be alone with His Father (Lk 5:16, 6:12). We also need time out on holiday [a retreat from work] for rest and relaxation to refocus and regain a true perspective. When refreshed in our spirits we are more able to face the challenges that will come. The fourth commandment says, have one day off from work a week to rest (Ex 20:8-11). When we fail to do this our spiritual sensitivity and effectiveness is weakened.

See also: defeat, failure, refresh, rest, time with God.