Last week, we (Class 20) had the opportunity to take a step back from the busyness of life. To slow down, reset our souls, minds, and bodies by practicing spiritual rhythms. We spent four days at a peaceful camp in the breathtaking scenery of Pisgah, Alabama, to spend intentional time practicing reflection, celebration, confession, silence and solitude, submission, Eucharist, prayer, worship, and fellowship.
Spiritual disciplines are training for Shalom (the way things ought to be). They are a means to God’s grace, meaning that we can have a fuller picture of the goodness and grace of God when we practice spiritual rhythms that lead us closer to God in everyday life.
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he first spiritual discipline we engaged in was silence and solitude. This was a beautiful time for us Fellows to get away from noise, people, and school to spend time alone with the Lord in His wonderful creation. I (Braelyn) spent my time in prayer and thanksgiving, worship, journaling and reflecting on Psalm 116, and taking a God-gifted nap in the sun.
We were created to enjoy God and be in relationship with Him. The Lord uses silence and solitude to speak to us in ways that we can’t always recognize when we are constantly surrounded by distractions.
During this intentional time, God showed up personally to me in an unexpected way:
I was sitting next to a lake, just me, my thoughts and the Lord, and God reminded me of what it looks like to be His child. I was reminded of what it was like to talk to God as a little kid about the smallest things that seemed so big in the moment. Things like the excitement of going to school or being able to drive someday. I remembered how I talked and dreamed with Jesus. He met me and brought me back to child-like faith.
As a Fellow, we are learning and studying important things about how to defend our faith and gain a deeper understanding of who God is. These things are amazing to know and study, but I started to think of God as something I was simply learning about academically. The Holy Spirit used the Spiritual Rhythms retreat to remind me that while God is so much bigger than I could ever imagine, He is also simple and personal, and he wants a relationship with me not only as His follower, but as His daughter.
While time alone was fruitful, being with our class in fellowship was equally as beautiful. We had deep reflective conversations with our bible study groups, celebrated and encouraged one another, played
games and ate smores at the fire. A picture was painted of what Christ-centered community can look like.
We ended our week the best way possible. We laughed together as we rode up in trailers to a stunning lookout, took communion and prayed together, worshiped under the stars, and experienced genuine fellowship.
Leaving this retreat, Class 20 found different ways to implement spiritual rhythms in our individual lives. These are the ways I (Braelyn) have decided to practice them. First, I am spending my mornings in silence, solitude and prayer by reading my Bible alone with God. Second, I have started to practice the spiritual discipline of celebration by writing down simple sentences of gratitude to God.
I am so thankful for the ways Jesus met me and my class. We saw that there is so much joy and life in Jesus. Slowing down isn’t wasted time; it’s where we begin to truly receive God’s grace and continue towards perfect Shalom.
Braelyn Gowler – Class 20 Fellow