A Day of Prayer
Last Saturday, nearly one hundred women from StoneBridge gathered for an all-day retreat that was life-giving in every way, from the beautiful and peaceful setting to the soul-filling instruction on growing in our lives of prayer. God’s loving and artistic hand was evident in every detail of the day, so beautifully carried out by the many talents of the VineLife ministry team.
The setting was a peaceful wedding venue nestled in a remote area of Concord. As I pulled into the winding drive, the vista opened to wide pastures with small lakes, cows, swaying trees, and a pristine white barn adorned with Edison lights and the waft of fresh coffee and baked goods. A calm engulfed me as I settled in for the day.
Lena Ellingburg and Heidi Fromke led us through a progression of talks on prayer. They offered powerful instruction through sharing their personal experiences and growth in prayer, types of prayer, how to pray, barriers to prayer, and most importantly to me, clearing our minds to most effectively pray. As Lena so eloquently gave testimony to, how to move from “I need to pray” to “I want to pray.”
Worship music rang out between sessions with the near-heavenly unison of women’s voices singing about God’s goodness. Together we proclaimed we are no longer slaves, we have a firm foundation, and that we stand in his love.
Just after lunch from Chicken Salad Chick (What could be more perfect?), our lawn chairs were spaced out like dots on the rolling grounds for a loosely-guided quiet time. The sun was warm. The breeze gently blew. The cows were frolicking. God was near, and the Holy Spirit filled vulnerable souls with a peace and awareness of his presence. We rested (and napped!) in this sliver of time away from the daily distractions we all face.
The afternoon was filled with walks, cornhole, chats by the firepit, and more naps for some weary mothers who were free of responsibilities at home for the day. Friendships blossomed, as laughter rang out on this holy ground.
After regrouping for a delicious barbecue dinner from The Smoke Pit, our last session ended with small groups praying for each other, culminating with an angelic chorus of voices singing “O Praise the Name.”
As I reluctantly drove home, I felt a nearness to God I didn’t realize I was lacking, as well as an eagerness to pray because I wanted to, not because I needed to. I wanted to experience the comfort of prayer and its life-giving power in a new way. This retreat was what I needed to re-tune my heart to God.
Thank you, VineLife, for a day in Eden. I encourage all women not to be intimidated by retreats but to come to the next one with an open and moldable heart of surrender, a desire to know God better.
Kelly Dockery
