Thought for the Week by Rev Martin Russell
I have just come back from a week's individually guided retreat. It is a time of quiet with God.
I stayed at a beautiful and peaceful retreat centre near Scarborough which was uplifting and refreshing. I try and go on a retreat each year just to rest and review my life with God and my priorities.
We all need times of holiday and rest to recover from the pressure of work, the jobs that need to be done and the rush of daily life.
When we are away from it all, we begin to see the things that matter and more trivial things we can do without.
For Christians that means making space for God in daily prayer, Bible reading and church worship. It's easy to let these things slip as other demands are made on us.
In his ministry Jesus was under huge pressure from the crowds seeking healing, guidance and help. There was also those who saw him as an enemy, confronting him with questions and accusations. Jesus therefore would take his disciples apart for a time of rest and quietness. We need that too. A walk on the hills or in the woods is always refreshing. Why not try a quiet time with God?
Rev Martin Russell