Soul Care Retreat
Planning Guide and Resources
What is a soul care retreat?
Soul care is an important but often neglected spiritual discipline. The pace of life, myriad of responsibilities, and overwhelming feeling to "just keep swimming" begins to take a toll on your soul. In the midst of a busy, chaotic, confusing season, sometimes the best thing you can do is to stop, listen, and hear from God.
A soul care retreat offers you a time, place, and space to reflect, pray, and listen to the still small voice of God.
Below you will find a list of resources and tools to help you plan and prepare for your retreat.
1-2 Months Before
- This week is the logistical planning week.
- Identify specific dates and times for your retreat.
- Identify your retreat location and make a reservation.
- Delegate specific ministry responsibilities to your team for that week.
2-3 Weeks Before
- These weeks are the resource planning weeks
- Complete the Stewardship Prayer Guide below
- Select a book you want to bring with you
- Identify a BIG prayer focus that you need to hear from God.
- Recruit people to be praying for you while retreating
1 Week Before
- This is retreat week.
- Create margin so you aren’t cramming to get things done immediately before or after the retreat.
- Plan something fun with your family before and/or after your retreat. Try not to make this week “busy.”
- Set up your communication for freedom to detach.
- Email: Set an automation for anyone who emails you to receive an immediate response to not expect a reply until the following week
- Voicemail: Record a new voicemail letting people know you are unavailable and will begin returning their calls the following week.
- Texts: This one is on you. Let your family and team know you will not be responding to texts, and discipline yourself to abandon your impulse to engage in conversation with anyone other than God.
Includes modifications for half-day or full-day retreat
The times here are suggestions. Move within your retreat as you see fit. We are simply suggesting a flow. This is a time for grace, not rigidity.
Day 1
5:00pm | Dinner
Eat dinner out, choose a good location and savor your meal.
6:30pm | Settle In
Arrive at your destination. Unpack slowly. Set up your things the way you like them.
7:00pm | Rest & Renewal
Do what you want to do. Don’t try to be studious or spiritual. This evening is about letting the dust settle in your heart and mind. Your soul needs to detox.
- Take a walk at an unhurried pace.
- Journal your concerns, your unfinished business from the day, your desires, your hopes.
- Enjoy some good reading in the Bible or a spiritually enriching book.
- Listen to some music as a main focus (rather than as background noise).
- Experiment with doing absolutely nothing. Notice how you feel and talk with God about that.
- Rest. Relax. Let your soul’s RPM downshift.
9:00pm | Final Preparation
Order tomorrow’s schedule. Make sure you have a flexible, non-restricting plan. Have prayer lists made. Spend this hour making sure you don’t have to make many decisions tomorrow. Tomorrow should be entering a prepared day of rest and attention to the Spirit.
10:00pm | Bed
Go to bed. A huge part of retreat is getting good rest. So shut off the lights and let your body rest and recover.
Day 2
7:00am | Rise & Shine
Eat breakfast and get ready for your day. (If you prefer to sleep in, please do so. Make your time adjustments accordingly). Spend the first hour simply being quiet
8:00am | Clearing Space
This is the time to clear yourself of the pressures of responsibilities, obligations, and impulses to connect with anything from the normal you are retreating from.
- Exercise: The Devil’s Playground. A helpful practice is to take a piece of paper and write down everything that is on your mind. People, tasks, addiction to connection, etc. This list is what we will call The Devil’s Playground. The enemy will use these things to pull you out of retreat and back into the busyness of life. This is God’s time... don’t let Satan play steal what you have already dedicated to God.
8:30am | Movement 1: Renew My Call to Follow
Luke 5:1-11 | 90 minutes | Movement 1 Guide
10:00am | Open
Choose from the list of unhurried practices* or find other ways for you to be renewed and refreshed. Lunch will be a part of this time.
12:30pm | Movement 2: Renew My Commitment to Follow
Luke 9:23-26 | 90 minutes | Movement 2 Guide
(Renewing the commitment to kill my will, pick up my cross, and follow Him.)
2:00pm | Open
Choose from the list of unhurried practices* or find other ways for you to be renewed and refreshed. Lunch will be a part of this time.
4:00pm | Movement 3: Renew my understanding of God’s Grace
Matthew 26:31-35 | 90 minutes | Movement 3 Guide
5:30pm | Open/Dinner
Choose from the list of unhurried practices* or find other ways for you to be renewed and refreshed. Lunch will be a part of this time.
- Sometime before bed, read the selection from Alan Fadling’s book An Unhurried Leader.
10:00pm | Bed
Go to bed. A huge part of retreat is getting good rest. So shut off the lights and let your body rest and recover.
Day 3
7:00am | Rise & Pack
Eat breakfast and pack up. Don’t rush. You are taking care of wrapping up certain tasks so you can finish your retreat well this morning.
8:00am | Clearing Space
This is the time to clear yourself of the pressures of responsibilities, obligations, and impulses to connect with anything from the normal you are retreating from.
- Exercise: The Devil’s Playground (see day 2)
8:30am | Movement 4: Renew my responsibility to care
1 Peter 5:1-11 | 90 minutes | Movement 4 Guide
Departure
Depart at your own time. Don’t rush out. Pause for a moment before you leave to thank God for the retreat you just experienced.
Locations
Location is an important aspect of your retreat. Retreat Centers are designed with sabbath rest in mind. Lodging ranges from simple hotel-like accommodations to hermitages (small, simple cabins). Retreat Center’s amenities are helpful to rest. Prayer labyrinths, Stations of the Cross, prayer chapels, and more. Try to surround yourself with as much beauty as possible. You can, of course, be alone anywhere, but planning for a space that is conducive to quiet is very helpful. A local retreat center, which may provide 3 meals and a room for the night. Be mindful of travel time. Is a longer drive refreshing for you or draining?
RETREAT CENTERS
- Portiuncula Renter for Prayer | Frankfort, IL
- Lindenwood Retreat Center | Plymouth, IN
- Chiara Center | Springfield, IL
- Franciscan Spirituality Center | La Crosse, WI
- Search online for others
OTHER LOCATIONS
- Pine Trail Camp | Saugatuck, MI
- Cedar Lake Ministries | Cedar Lake, IN
- Starved Rock | Utica, IL
- Turkey Run | Marshall, IN
- Devil’s Lake | Baraboo, WI
- Hotel/Lodges
- Air BnB
- Search online for others
Meals
If the location you choose does not provide meals, be sure to make a plan for them ahead of time. You can make your own meals or stop at a grocery store that has pre-packaged meals to keep things more simple. Let this be an element of refreshment during your retreat. Pick meals you enjoy.
Packing
When packing, simplicity is again key. Bring along as little as is necessary. No need to pack any distractions. Here’s our typical packing list:
- Clothes and shoes for one day
- Toiletries
- Hat & sunscreen (if hot and sunny)
- Outerwear (if cold)
- Bible
- Spiritual reading book(s)
- Journal
- Pen
- Phone* & charger
- Art supplies (optional)
- Computer & charger (optional - for journaling only)
*A note about your phone. It’s a good idea to make some decisions about your phone before you depart. Try keeping it in airplane mode most of the time and use it only for music. Tell your loved ones that you will only check it at certain times during the day. Give yourself the gift of not being virtually omnipresent.
Rest
- Sabbath as Resistance | Walter Brueggemann
- The Sabbath | Abraham Joshua Heschel
- Sabbath | Wayne Muller
- A Long Obedience in the Same Direction | Eugene Peterson
- The Pursuit of God | A.W. Tozer
- Intimacy With the Almighty | Charles Swindoll
Soul Care in Leadership
- The Wounded Healer | Henri Nouwen
- Working the Angles | Eugene Peterson
- Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership | Ruth Haley Barton
- An Unhurried Leader | Alan Fadling
- Leadership as an Identity | Crawford Loritts
- Emotionally Healthy Leader | Pete Scazzero
- The Leadership Ellipse | Robert Fryling
Spiritual Growth
- Ordering Your Private World | Gordom MacDonald
- Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret | Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor
- The Deeper Life | Daniel Henderson
- The Ragamuffin Gospel | Brennan Manning
- Messy Spirituality | Mike Yacanelli
Unhurried Practices
- Take a walk at an unhurried pace. Listen to nature. Notice what it feels like to move slowly.
- Read the scriptures receptively. Not for information, but for transformation. Don’t read to create a sermon, read to allow the Word to preach to you.
- Listen to worship music. Not as background. Really listen to the words and soak in the melodies.
- Sit somewhere and notice what surrounds you. Listen. Look. Feel. Take it in.
- Take a nap
- Talk with God about what’s been on your heart and mind lately. Do this aloud or in a journal.
- Read one of your spiritual reading books that you brought. Stop and ponder or pray.
Journal any insights. Be ministered to by the wisdom of the author. - Conversation (phone or video-call) with a mentor or friend. If you are retreating with someone, plan a conversation. Talk about what God is revealing on this retreat, some of the pressures/tensions you have been battling, or issues in your home.
- Other Ideas: plan for something to interact with, but still allow for prayer, meditation, and reflection: bring a guitar, art supplies, running shoes, a camera, etc.
Stewardship Prayer
Use your Stewardship Prayer Guide Work through each stewardship area with the following prayer pattern. Write down any insights or direction that God speaks as you pray.
- How am I deeply thankful?
- Where do I need correction?
- Where do I need help?
- What am I genuinely doing well?
- How can I bring more of God into this area I’m called to steward?
Prayer Labyrinth
If your retreat center has a labyrinth, use the Prayer Labyrinth Guide to get the most out of this ancient resource. If you do not have a prayer labyrinth, select a starting point and a destination (center) and turn a walk into the prayer rhythm for a labyrinth using the same process.
A Helpful tool for retreat is a prioritized list of the people and responsibilities God has given you to steward.
Step 1
Identify your top 5 areas of your life that God has given you to steward, starting with yourself. Some will be family, ministry, major responsibilities, etc. Once you have them identified, prioritize them in order starting with your greatest priority.
Step 2
Ideas for using this list include (but are not limited to) praying for: perspective, insight, a prophetic word, thanksgiving, etc. You can also prepare for your retreat by listing prayer points for each area before you arrive.
Myself
Stewardship 1
Stewardship 2
Stewardship 3
Stewardship 4
Stewardship 5
What is a prayer labyrinth?
A labyrinth is not a maze. A labyrinth has one clear path in and the same path out. The labyrinth will assist you in Christian meditation and prayer. In the Middle Ages the labyrinths were used as a way for people to participate in a pilgrimage without the expense or time required in actually going to another place. Labyrinths were created on the floors of cathedrals to help draw people into meditation.
The labyrinth is a pre-Christian symbol. Like many other symbols, Christians have adopted and embraced the symbol of the labyrinth and in effect, have redeemed it for Christian use. Like most symbols it is primarily the orientation of the user, and not the symbol itself, that dictates whether it is used for harm or good.
As we walk toward the center, and the cross, we know and are known by Jesus, and we are reminded to center our life on God and God’s purposes. As we walk out again toward the edge, we are mindful of following Jesus in our life in the world.
Symbol of a Prayer Labyrinth
The labyrinth is a model or metaphor for life. The Christian life is often described as a pilgrimage or journey with God, a journey in which we can grow closer in relationship with God, and in turn, closer to others. The center of the labyrinth symbolizes your sitting in the presence of God.
In life, as in the labyrinth, we are paying attention only to the portion of the path immediately in front of us. We are in the moment, staying in step with the Spirit, and trusting the ultimate destination to God.
We don’t foresee the twists and turns that the future holds, but we know that the path will eventually arrive at the center, God. Sometimes the path leads inward toward the ultimate goal, only to lead outward again. We meet others along the path—some we meet face-to-face stepping aside to let them pass; some catch up to us and pass us from behind; others we pass along the way. At the center we rest, watch others, pray. Sometimes we stay at the center a long time; other times we leave quickly.
The Center | The center is representative of your undivided attention to the voice and fullness of God.
Outside the labyrinth | The world, distractions, obligations, relationships, responsibilities, worries, fears, and doubts.
The Trail | The trail is the way to get from the world we are used to into the center with the presence of God. Of course you can simply walk straight into the center, but the trail twists and turns. It works out our patience, attention, and desire to be away from the world so we can be with God.
Movement of the Prayer Labyrinth...
1. Identify your purpose for entering the labyrinth:
- A specific request: you need to hear from God
- Alignment of your life to God’s will
- An opportunity to be with God
2. The Pilgrimage In:
- Bring your prayer, request, and attention with you.
- Life will pull you back with distractions, worries, and doubts. You will need to fight those along the way.
- Walk slow. Pay attention to only your next step. Trust that the path before you will lead you where you need to go, and focus only on the next step you need to take.
- This is the time of distancing yourself from the world behind you to enter the presence of God before you.
3. The Center:
- At the center, the person comes to the center of his or her relationship with God.
- In the center, spend time reflecting on your relationship with God.
- Be aware of God’s presence.
- There is no time limit to being in the center. Ask for God to speak, give clarity, or correction. You don’t need to move until God calls you to return back to the world you just distanced yourself from.
4. The Pilgrimage Out:
- At some point the Spirit of God will give you the impulse to reenter the world.
- You do not leave the center, but you spend your time in the center with you as you walk back into the world.
- The pilgrimage out is a prayer journey of installing what was gained in the center into your life’s calling.
- As the trail opens up into the world around you, give your labyrinth experience closure by prayer with gratitude, consecration, and commitment.
RESET
- Unload anything weighing on you | Worries, responsibilities, unfinished work, etc.
- As a way to center your heart, soul, and mind | slowly read and meditate on Psalm 62
- Pray | Father, I consecrate this to be your time. I trust you with everything. I need to hear from you more than I need to think about anything else. Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.
READ | Luke 5:1-11
Read Luke 5:1-11 slowly 3 times. Soak in every word. Understand the emotion of the situation. Feel the reality of what is taking place in this Word. When you have finished your 3rd, unhurried reading, retell the story using your own words.
REFLECT | prayerfully ponder the implications of this scripture
- What part of this scripture took a hold of me?
- What word/phrase in this scripture does my heart gravitate towards?
- What challenged me in this scripture?
- What did this scripture reveal that has been missing in my life?
- What did this scripture reveal that has been consistent in my life?
- What did this scripture cause you to remember?
- What did this scripture cause you to realize?
- What did this scripture reveal that ,if obeyed or implemented, would drastically change my life?
REVOLVE | Contemplate this scripture from different angles
Allow it to fill every area and begin thinking how it challenges, corrects, trains, and equips you.
RESPOND
After reading this scripture, reflecting on it’s meaning, and revolving around various implications, what shifts do I need to make in my habits, behaviors, and/or attitudes?
RESET
- Unload anything weighing on you | Worries, responsibilities, unfinished work, etc.
- As a way to center your heart, soul, and mind | slowly read and meditate on Psalm 46
- Pray | Father, I consecrate this to be your time. I trust you with everything. I need to hear from you more than I need to think about anything else. Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.
READ | Luke 9:23-26
Read Luke 9:23-26 slowly 3 times. Soak in every word. Understand the emotion of the situation. Feel the reality of what is taking place in this Word. When you have finished your 3rd, unhurried reading, retell the story using your own words.
REFLECT | prayerfully ponder the implications of this scripture
- What part of this scripture took a hold of me?
- What word/phrase in this scripture does my heart gravitate towards?
- What challenged me in this scripture?
- What did this scripture reveal that has been missing in my life?
- What did this scripture reveal that has been consistent in my life?
- What did this scripture cause you to remember?
- What did this scripture cause you to realize?
- What did this scripture reveal that ,if obeyed or implemented, would drastically change my life?
REVOLVE | Contemplate this scripture from different angles
Allow it to fill every area and begin thinking how it challenges, corrects, trains, and equips you.
RESPOND
After reading this scripture, reflecting on it’s meaning, and revolving around various implications, what shifts do I need to make in my habits, behaviors, and/or attitudes.
RESET
- Unload anything weighing on you | Worries, responsibilities, unfinished work, etc.
- As a way to center your heart, soul, and mind | slowly read and meditate on Psalm 121
- Pray | Father, I consecrate this to be your time. I trust you with everything. I need to hear from you more than I need to think about anything else. Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.
READING #1 | Matthew 26:31-46, 56, & 69-75
Read Matthew 26:31-46, 56, and 69-75 slowly 2 times, paying attention to Peter. Soak in every word. Understand the emotion of the situation. Feel the reality of what is taking place in this Word. When you have finished your 2nd, unhurried reading, retell the story using your own words.
REFLECT #1 | prayerfully ponder the implications of this scripture
- What part of this scripture took a hold of me?
- What word/phrase in this scripture does my heart gravitate towards?
- What challenged me in this scripture?
- What did this scripture reveal that has been missing in my life?
- What did this scripture reveal that has been consistent in my life?
- What did this scripture cause you to remember?
- What did this scripture cause you to realize?
- What did this scripture reveal that ,if obeyed or implemented, would drastically change my life?
REVOLVE #1 | Contemplate this scripture from different angles
Allow it to fill every area and begin thinking how it challenges, corrects, trains, and equips you.
READ #2 | John 21:1-19
Read John 21:1-19 slowly, paying attention to Peter. Soak in every word. Understand the emotion of the situation. Feel the reality of what is taking place in this Word. When you have finished, retell the story using your own words.
REFLECT #2 | prayerfully ponder the implications of this scripture
- What part of this scripture took a hold of me?
- What word/phrase in this scripture does my heart gravitate towards?
- What challenged me in this scripture?
- What did this scripture reveal that has been missing in my life?
- What did this scripture reveal that has been consistent in my life?
- What did this scripture cause you to remember?
- What did this scripture cause you to realize?
- What did this scripture reveal that ,if obeyed or implemented, would drastically change my life?
REVOLVE #2 | Contemplate this scripture from different angles
Allow it to fill every area and begin thinking how it challenges, corrects, trains, and equips you.
RESPOND
After reading this scripture, reflecting on it’s meaning, and revolving around various implications, what shifts do I need to make in my habits, behaviors, and/or attitudes.
RESET
- Unload anything weighing on you | Worries, responsibilities, unfinished work, etc.
- As a way to center your heart, soul, and mind | slowly read and meditate on Psalm 23
- Pray | Father, I consecrate this to be your time. I trust you with everything. I need to hear from you more than I need to think about anything else. Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.
READ | 1 Peter 5:1-11
Read 1 Peter 5:1-11 slowly 3 times. Soak in every word. Understand the emotion of the situation. Feel the reality of what is taking place in this Word. When you have finished your 3rd, unhurried reading, retell the story using your own words.
REFLECT | prayerfully ponder the implications of this scripture
- What part of this scripture took a hold of me?
- What word/phrase in this scripture does my heart gravitate towards?
- What challenged me in this scripture?
- What did this scripture reveal that has been missing in my life?
- What did this scripture reveal that has been consistent in my life?
- What did this scripture cause you to remember?
- What did this scripture cause you to realize?
- What did this scripture reveal that ,if obeyed or implemented, would drastically change my life?
REVOLVE | Contemplate this scripture from different angles
Allow it to fill every area and begin thinking how it challenges, corrects, trains, and equips you.
RESPOND
After reading this scripture, reflecting on it’s meaning, and revolving around various implications, what shifts do I need to make in my habits, behaviors, and/or attitudes?
EN 
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