Preparing Hearts for our Hope Retreat

I realize some of you reading today may not be coming along with us this weekend on our first-ever "Hope Retreat" (sad face), but you can be a part of this weekend by committing to lifting us up in prayer, as we prepare for and experience what God has in store for the weekend. I do believe there is some practical application for everyone in the post to follow, so please read on and think about the preparation of your own heart for God to do His work...

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In just a few short days, a group of 17 women, myself included will take part in our first-ever "Hope Retreat." I can't tell you how very excited I am for this planned time of faith, fellowship and fun. Friday evening will be filled with a fabulous dinner out and a special "Hope Night" to take place at the hotel in which we are staying. We will have desserts and gifts and prizes and fun! We will pray and reflect and hear from two fellow "mommies" about God's work in their lives! As a second part to this "Hope Retreat" we will be attending the Rise and Shine Women's Retreat on Saturday, which is a one-day event with featured speaker, Lysa Terkeurst! I have had the awesome privilege of hearing her speak on a couple of occasions and was truly blessed. I trust you will be too!

Each of these things in and of themselves are absolutely fantastic! It's exciting to think about a little getaway that involves some time with the ladies, not having to cook for or clean up after ourselves, and of course massive amounts of chocolate. With spouses and/or families left behind, there are many details we each need to juggle and negotiate. We have to think about schedules and childcare and work and carpool situation. We have to choose out attire, plan our finances, and think about the rest of the weekend's festivities upon our return home from this mini getaway. Some of the ladies attending are involved with helping out with Friday's "Hope Night", so some may also be finalizing the details and duties pertaining to that.

I am needing to remind myself, and felt it important to remind all of you, that most important of all amidst the many preparations taking place is our need to prepare our hearts. Let us not neglect this, ladies! God has called each and every one of us to be a part of this weekend and He has plans in store for each of us. This calls to mind a familiar verse of encouragement from Jeremiah...

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a HOPE and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

What are some practical ways that we can prepare our hearts for the "Hope Retreat" throughout the rest of this week? Over the next few days, I will highlight several ideas, as listed below. First up...PRAYER! I will go into the other ideas in more detail throughout the rest of this week, so stay tuned.

Pray!!!

Ask God to prepare your heart for the weekend. Pour out your hear to Him and cast your cares upon Him. He desires to hear from you. If you are not attending, pray still and ask God to reveal to you those things that He would have you learn and experience to grow closer to Him. He wants to have a relationship with each and every one of us, made possible through the sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus! Prayer is a vital part this relationship.

Know that those of you attending are being prayed for by name. That's right...there are four women from our own ministry who have been praying for each of you in preparation for the weekend. What's more, the ladies of the Rise and Shine women's ministry team have been praying the Fruits of the Spirit over each of you, by name, since the moment you were registered! Is that not an awesome comfort?!

Don't be leary about leaving out the details! Pray for your families in your absence. Pray for your schedule. Pray that God maximizes your time to do all the things He has ordained for you to do beforehand. Pray that He would calm your spirit and give you a peace and a heart that is open to His guidance and direction. Pray, pray, pray!!

Recognize the Battle

(More to come on Wednesday)

Extend Grace

(More to come on Thursday)

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I would love to hear what others of you have been doing and/or plan to do, starting today! Leave your thoughts in the comments, ladies!!