For some, it can be very helpful to do something active while meditating on Scripture. This is one reason why many find the Walking with a Text activity beneficial. In this meditation time, rather than walking, choose a crafting activity that you can do almost without thinking. If the craft requires significant focus or concentration,...
Category: Let the Thirsty Come
Part 9: Reflection
This is the final part of our Let the Thirsty Come retreat series, which highlights different aspects of spending extended quality time with God. What makes a time of reflection fruitful? The retreat series began with thoughts from the parable of the prodigal son. In this final devotional of the series, Josh returns to that story to...
Color-Coded Thanks
This activity is a type of prayer journaling that helps you express your specific needs to the Lord and recount the ways that he has answered prayer. While it can be done as part of a spiritual retreat, it is even better as a regular journaling practice. Recording Specific Prayer and Specific Praise You delivered...
Creative Praise
Choose one of the following activities to creatively express your love and thanks through art. A Picture of Safety You are good to me and I am securing you Choose a psalm and spend some time meditating on it. What pictures or metaphors have been most helpful for you understanding you are secure in Christ...
Written Praise
Choose one of the following activities to focus on journaling or writing your thanks and praise through written prayers, liturgies, poems, or song. God is Mighty to Save You save your people from trouble Choose a psalm and take some time to meditate on it. Afterwards, write your own prayer, poem, or song thanking God...
Active Praise
In these activities, we use our actions and posture of our bodies in order to help us dwell on God’s beauty and express praise to him. Choose one of the following activities to physically express your love and thanks. Walking with Awe and Thanks You are a glorious creator and provider Choose a psalm and...
Part 8: Thanks and Praise
This is Part 8 of our Let the Thirsty Come retreat series, which highlights different aspects of spending extended quality time with God. Do we treat praise as a religious obligation, or like paying our taxes — giving what we are obligated to? In Psalm 145, we find a different picture! This month’s devotional encourages...
Closing Liturgy
As you wrap up your time of spiritual retreat, writing a short liturgy is a great way to synthesize the key themes and takeaways from your time with God. This not only allows you a moment to reflect on what has been significant today, but it also gives a concrete and easy way to return...
Learning-to-Lament Worksheet
Use this template to gather phrases and verses from the lament psalms that connect to your heart and situation. Then, use these excerpts to help you express and write your own prayer of lament to God. Click here for a printable PDF version of this worksheet. Movements of Lament Psalm _______ My Lament Turn to...
Praying Difficult Emotions
The lament psalms show us that the best thing to do with difficult emotions is to run to God. In the laments, we see that God welcomes us to express our hearts honestly to him and to look to him for help. In this activity, we use the psalms of lament to help us express...