What if I just schedule it?
- Christine Labrum
- Dec 3, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 6
# Spiritual Practice: Personal Retreat for Renewal and Growth
## The Importance of Scheduling Time for Yourself
What do I diligently schedule? I write down or add to my digital calendar: doctor's appointments, work commitments, grocery shopping, church events, school activities, vacations, financial planning, or spiritual retreats. What have I committed to and created space for in my life?
Sometimes, I hesitate to schedule the things that truly matter to me. This hesitation may stem from anxiety, an unnamed resistance, expense, or something else entirely. For instance, I am currently procrastinating on registering for a local art league painting class this winter. This class would be beneficial, offering both structure and community. I know it's a wise decision, yet I still hesitate. So how does it work for you? How do you schedule the things that are important to you? Is it easy or difficult?
I value my relationship with God. I believe that the health of this relationship is crucial to my well-being and foundational to my family, ministry, and work. Over the years, I have learned that scheduling extended time with God—a personal retreat—is a spiritual practice that bears good fruit in my life.
Just this week, I began looking at the calendar to schedule a retreat in January 2026. Over twenty years ago, I started planning retreat time two or three times a year. My season of life at that time, with young children, shaped what was possible. Sometimes, a half-day or an overnight was all I could manage. Other values influenced my schedule in concrete ways. Grocery shopping, family gatherings, doctor's appointments, and car inspections also made it onto my calendar. If I didn’t go grocery shopping, the fridge would be empty. If I didn’t get my car inspected, there could be consequences. If I do not tend to my soul, eventually, depletion will lead to distress and overload. How can my calendar and use of time reflect my values?
Time to attend to God is not an extravagance, like icing on a cake; it is essential. If retreat is a new spiritual practice for you, consider how planning a retreat might be meaningful and beneficial, given your unique personality, resources, and season of life. If it is already one of your practices, have you scheduled a 2026 retreat yet?
Planning a Personal Retreat
Schedule It!
Set aside a weekend, an overnight, or even a half-day to escape your usual rhythms. Mark that day on your calendar as sacred.
Choose Your Location
You can retreat at a hotel, Airbnb, a friend's home, or a space like The Welcoming Place in Akron. Ask God to provide and prayerfully consider your options.
Three-Fold Focus
While there may be other focuses like vision or work, celebration, etc., consider these three:
REST: How do I need rest—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually?
REPENTANCE: What is God's invitation to turn back to Him? This includes realignment, discernment, and attention to addictive or unhealthy habits.
RENEWAL: What is needed for inner healing, creative and visionary ideas, relational repair or engagement, and missional guidance?
Resources for Your Retreat
Books: I created Come as a guide through a personal retreat with journal space.
- Come: God's Invitation to Rest and Renewal, personal retreat guidebook
- Invitation to Retreat, Ruth Haley Barton
- Invitation to Silence and Solitude, Ruth Haley Barton
- The Return of the Prodigal Son, Henri Nouwen
- Boundaries for Your Soul, Allison Cook & Kimberly Miller (soul work)
Creativity: Consider incorporating a creative prayer activity. Collage is an accessible way to express creativity, whether or not you see yourself as artistic. There are multiple ways to include creative prayer activities in your retreat.
Chocolate: A little chocolate is integral to retreat time (or a treat that you enjoy).
Elements to Include in Your Retreat
Gratitude: Reflect on God's blessings and provision.
Celebration: Remember and delight in fruitfulness. How could you do this in a concrete way?
Healing: Are there hurts in your life that need God's healing? Do you need to name and grieve these with God?
Review Spiritual and Life Rhythms: Consider your toolbox for well-being—prayer, engaging with Scripture, fasting, service and ministry, silence, generosity, work-sabbath rhythms, play, etc. Are there invitations to different tools?
Take a Nap: We are created for rest.
There are places that host silent retreats, providing guided personal time with God without being completely alone. For those who shepherd, Space to Listen will offer a Shepherd's Prayer Retreat in early spring. This retreat provides some community engagement and some alone time.
Perhaps the gift of a retreat basket or box would be meaningful for you or a shepherd you care about. You could include:
A book (Come - personal retreat guidebook listed below)
A candle (a reminder to attend to God and to the light)
A journal
A pitcher (a reminder to fill up before pouring out)
A reminder to play (bubbles or something fun)
Chocolate
A gift card/certificate for a location
Add any other reminders of God's love. Consider a retreat as a romantic getaway with the One who loves you most.
A Reflective Prayer for Your Retreat
As you prepare for your retreat, take a moment to reflect on your needs and desires. Allow this time to be a sacred space where you can connect with God deeply and meaningfully.
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