Suggested Spiritual Disciplines For Retreat

In Hebrews 12:1, we are called to run the race with endurance.  Spiritual disciplines are one way that we build endurance for the road ahead.  The following are some of the spiritual disciplines that we have found helpful in attending to God and to those around us (Loving God and Loving Neighbor).

When practiced regularly, they do not bring us closer to God.  As the subtitle of Dallas Willard’s book¹ on the spiritual disciplines states it, they help us work together with God to change; to become more Christ-like.  The subtitle of Richard Foster’s book on the spiritual disciplines is “The Path to Spiritual Growth.”  So these disciplines are all about growth and change. Foster says “The classical disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths.² In the words of G. K Chesterton, “Christianity has not so much been tried and found wanting, as it has been found difficult and left untried.”  The disciplines help us to “try on” Christianity.  Or more appropriately, “try on Christ.”³ As Willard says, they are “nothing but the love of Jesus, with its resolute will to be like him whom we love.”

Here are the ones that we have found particularly helpful to be used on retreat.  Obviously you don’t do everyone on one retreat! Click on the links to read more about each one.

• Listening Prayer
• Lectio Divina – Divine Reading
• Visio Divina
• Napcio Divina
• Treasuring
• Centering Prayer
• Welcoming Prayer
• Scripture memorization
• Fasting
• Worship
• Spiritual Direction