 I wrote Manifesto of the Beloved as much as for you as for myself. I need constant reminders of my identity as God's beloved child. This past week for our family has felt very much like one of those stormy seasons, when things are hazy and chaotic. I confess that my heart has been pulled toward anxiety and fear. Is God truly with us? Does he see and care about us? But I also KNOW. Deep down, below the fear, I know who I am and how God sees me. I am the beloved. He is my ever-present Father. So I wrote the Manifesto to claim and hold these truths in my heart. And I share it because I believe YOU are also a beloved child. I invite you to claim your chosenness with me, and rebel against the voices of "not enough." Manifesto of the BelovedTo the hurts, the offenses, the rejections, The whispers that call me worthless and unlovable and not enough, I declare you are not the truth of my identity. I will let these voices move to the background, I will listen to that small soft voice whispering to me. It is the voice calling me and naming me. The voice says the truth. “You are my beloved child. I am well-pleased with you.” It is the one voice that matters. I am the chosen. I am the cherished. I believe I am the beloved, Even when it doesn't feel true. I choose it and hold it tightly in my heart. I don’t have to search and wander, Anxious and restless. I rest in the sacred presence, Where I am finally and eternally home. Because I am chosen, I am free. I am free from jealousy, Free from competition, free from striving. I embrace others with compassion, And reveal to others their same chosenness. I am learning to embrace my belovedness, Living with inner joy and peace, Claiming it as my truest identity. I am being the beloved. I am becoming the beloved. I am living as the beloved. Print your own PDF version: Manifesto of the Beloved.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Spiritual retreat is time set apart to be in quiet, rest, and solitude with God. For generations, people have gone on spiritual retreats to encounter God and experience spiritual renewal. Retreats remove us from noise and distraction, and into a place of spiritual refreshing and renewing. It is a way of entering into the presence of God, and allowing him to nourish our soul. As we settle into the stillness, we notice the stirrings of our soul, our deeper longings, and God’s quiet whisper to us. Wise words from a spiritual mentor One of the people who first got me to consider taking a personal spiritual retreat was the late author known for writing about Christian spiritual formation, Dallas Willard. Dr. Willard was a professor at USC while I was there as a student, and later as a campus minister. During one of his open office hours, Steve and I meandered into his messy little office, hoping to gain a bit of wisdom from Dr. Willard. As he was known to do, he welcomed us in, and generously answered our questions. One question we asked him was, "What spiritual disciplines do you think are most vital for leaders to practice?" Without a pause, he answered "Solitude." He went on to say, "In order for ministers and leaders to thrive, they must maintain a deep, abiding relationship with God outside of public ministry demands." He suggested we learn how to be with God by ourselves through practicing regular extended times of retreat. I am not one to take Dallas Willard's perspective lightly, but the idea of having extended time of solitude and silence initially seemed like a terrible idea to me. I am extroverted and driven by nature, and at a deeper level, I was scared of simply being with God. Wasn't I going to just be bored out of my mind? What if God doesn't do anything, and it's a complete waste? My experience with spiritual retreats For my first spiritual retreat, I blocked out 24 hours (which sounded way too long to me). I found a local retreat center, brought my Bible and a book, and asked God to meet with me. Guess what happened? God MET WITH ME. God gave my soul deep rest that I didn't even know I needed. God spoke some words to my soul that refreshed me and ministered to me. Since that first retreat, I have taken personal spiritual retreats for prayer and solitude about 1-2 times a year. Each time I have a retreat, I receive an incredible outpouring of God's presence, direction, and voice. I often come back from my retreats with renewed vision, a deeper connectedness to God, and a clearer sense of my identity. In short, I highly recommend spiritual retreats to anyone who wants more of God in their lives. You may want to take a spiritual retreat, but don't know how to do it. If the practice of spiritual retreat is new or foreign to you, I've created a simple guide for you. Whether your retreat is a half-day or multiple days, this guide will give you some helpful steps to take. Download and print a free PDF Guide to Spiritual Retreat. A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO SPIRITUAL RETREAT 1. CREATE THE TIME & FIND A PLACE Consider the length of time you want to take, and figure out when it can fit into your schedule. It can be a day or multiple days. Make any necessary arrangements to protect this time from distractions and work. Find a quiet setting where you can spend time alone with God. Go to a retreat center or monastery that welcomes visitors. Or spend a day outdoors in nature. 2. SET YOUR INTENTION Consider what the purpose is for your retreat. What are you hoping to receive from the time? Perhaps you want to experience rest, or gain more clarity about something in your life. Maybe you are discerning your vocational calling or a major life decision, and want to dialogue about that with God. 3. SETTLE INTO GOD’S PRESENCE Once you begin your retreat, spend a while simply settling in. Do something that helps you quiet your body and soul, and ease into the present moment - take a leisurely walk, or sit in stillness while doing deep breathing exercises. Allow yourself to become aware of God’s presence. When you sense his nearness, dialogue with him about your feelings and expectations of this time. Ask him what he wants for you to receive during this time. Listen. Respond to any stirrings you receive from the Spirit. 4. REFLECTION Let your awareness turn to the last week or month. How have you experienced God’s presence? What has been life-giving? What has been life-draining? You can use the Life Reflection worksheet. As you reflect, notice any desires of your soul that emerge. 5. CONNECT WITH GOD Connect with God through practices that help you engage with him and rest in his presence. You might read Scripture, practice centering prayer, write a psalm, make a gratitude list, or go on a hike with God. Do some good self-care in the presence of God. Do anything that you desire that makes space for your soul to worship and listen. This Creating Space for God prayer guide or the Examen Prayer might be useful. 6. RECEIVE & RETURN Ponder what you received from God during your retreat. What do you want to leave behind? What do you want to bring back with you? There is no right way to retreat. Receive what has been given to you, trusting that whatever happens is nourishing you in the way God intends. Now that you have some simple guidelines, go for it! I believe that if you take a spiritual retreat, you will experience so much joy, life, and renewal. I hope and pray that you would encounter the life-changing presence and voice of God. More resources: I have a lot of great guides and books in my resource library. Pick 1-2 of those resources and use them during your retreat. Want to get more guidance for your spiritual retreat? I can help you with crafting a spiritual retreat to fit your unique needs. I will also guide and coach you before and after your retreat so you get the most out of it. Learn more about my Guidance for Spiritual Retreats. Have you ever taken a spiritual retreat? How have your experiences been for you? If you haven't taken a spiritual retreat, what questions do you have? Please share in the comments. Want guidance and inspiration for your spiritual journey delivered to your inbox?
Sign up for my email newsletter Notes From Larissa.  When was the last time you did deep self-reflection? How much thought have you given to who you are and where you are going? Self-reflection allows us to become more aware of ourselves and our surroundings. It’s a little like looking at a shopping mall directory, searching for the “You are here.” We need to take a moment to accurately identify where we are and where we want to be going. It is necessary now and then for a man to go away by himself and experience loneliness; to sit on a rock in the forest and to ask of himself, 'Who am I, and where have I been, and where am I going?' . . . If one is not careful, one allows diversions to take up one's time—the stuff of life.” Without self-reflection, we become disconnected from ourselves, God, and others. We get lost and diverted from our vision and purposes. The opposite is true as well. When we are dialed into ourselves, we are more likely to be living with a clear sense of direction. Jesus experienced this early in his ministry. In Mark 1, after a busy day filled with ministry tasks, he takes time in the morning to be alone and pray. He experiences quiet reflection, and after that, has a renewed sense of direction. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. In self-reflection, we allow our hearts and minds to think and process. We pay attention to the things beneath the surface of our lives - our feelings, questions, frustrations. When we make space for self-reflection, there we discover authentic connection to our souls and to God. While self-reflection may be a good thing to do, we don't always do it. Why? Because self-reflection is important, but it isn't usually urgent. We generally have a list of daily tasks and responsibilities to accomplish, like fill the gas tank or email the boss. Where does self-reflection fit in? Like any important but less urgent activity, self-reflection takes intention. It is something we choose to create time for because we believe that it is worth our effort and beneficial to our wellbeing. Make space today for self-reflection, friend. Take some quiet, undisturbed time to thoughtfully respond to the reflection questions below. Allow yourself freedom to listen to your soul’s longings without judgement or self-editing. Give yourself the gift of self-reflection. You can also print out a free worksheet. 6 QUESTIONS FOR SELF-REFLECTION 1. In a few words or phrases, describe how you are presently doing. 2. How have you experienced God lately? 3. What has been life-giving? What has been life-draining? 4. What things are presently occupying your mind and heart? 5. For each section of the circle diagram below, consider how fulfilled you feel in that area. Draw a dot in between the center of the circle and the outer circle to represent the amount you feel fulfilled in that area, with the center representing 0% and the outer edge representing 100%. Connect each of the dots to create a shape - most likely it is a starburst. As you look at the shape on the diagram, what are your thoughts and insights?  6. What are the hopes and desires you want to bring to God? I hope and pray your time in self-reflection would be good for your soul. Don't forget to print out your free PDF worksheet. If you liked this article, read How to Use the Wheel of Life Tool For Personal Growth (+ free worksheet packet). How do you make space for self-reflection? Want to share any questions that help you self-reflect? Please share them in the comments. Want guidance and inspiration for your spiritual journey delivered to your inbox?
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WELCOMEHi, I'm Larissa. I am an artist and spiritual director on the island of O'ahu in Hawai'i.
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