Welcome!
Breathe In: A Personal Prayer Retreat is geared for you to individually come to a space at HCC St. Charles Campus and spend uninterrupted communion with God.
You can come once or as many times as you desire.
Prayer Times begin Tuesday, March 14th and are listed below:
Times
Tues. | 3/14 | 1-8 |
Wed. | 3/15 | 1-8 |
Thurs. | 3/16 | 1-8 |
Fri. | 3/17 | 10-5 |
Sat. | 3/18 | 10-5 |
Locations (select one)
- The Chapel
- Room 104 off the Chapel
- South Worship Center Upper and Lower Foyers
- Prayer Room
Weather permitting: The courtyard behind Guest Central may be utilized.
Please enter through:
- the Chapel Entrance – side door
Please be respectful of others praying, as this is a personal retreat time.
There will be pens, booklets, and bibles available in each setting.
Feel free to bring your own reading and writing materials.
Please sign in on the clip board to help us plan future prayer experiences.
Prepare
Select a location for spending 1 – 2 hours in prayer and reflection with God. The outline is divided into sections and includes places for notes.
Communion is available at the various prayer spaces to take as you prefer.
There are various chairs set up for prayer. Feel free to move around or utilize the front of the chapel altar area.
Silence
Think about God’s love. Sit with that thought for awhile. Write down what comes to mind.
Read Psalm 100
Consider that “we are his”. What does that mean to you right now?
Enter into a time of praise. Praise His Name
Next spend time with the word Forgiveness. Write out what you think of when you think of forgiveness.
The next 4 sections are separated so that you can pray though each one. Take as much time as you need. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart in these moments of quiet?
Section 1: God’s Forgiveness
- Read
I John 1:9
Psalm 32:5
Psalm 103:12
Proverbs 28:13
Acts 3:19
- Reflect
Consider the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.
Write what God’s forgiveness mean to you.
- Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, Let the words of Psalm 51 be my heart’s cry today. Create in me a clean heart. O God, renew a loyal spirit within me. When I feel weighed down by sin in my life, I will find freedom by seeking your forgiveness. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from sin.
Thank God for His incredible forgiveness.
Write out Psalm 86:5:
- Ponder
To be forgiven by God means your sins have been removed, and restoration has taken place. By God’s gracious gift of forgiveness through Christ, any wrongdoing is not held again you.
Section 2: Letting Go of Your Disappointment with God
- Read
Psalm 13: 1-2
2 Corinthians 12:9
Romans 8:28
- Reflect
You may have thought this section should read Forgiving God. However, the act of forgiving implies that the object of forgiveness is guilty of sin and requires forgiveness. God certainly does not need our forgiveness. However, do you treat Him as if he has sinned against you or a loved one?
Consider the areas you need to make peace with God.
Do you have a feeling like you want to “make God pay”?
What are your beliefs about God that are leading you to disappointment?
Write out your answers and feelings below:
- Pray
Surrender to God these areas of pain that have brought you disappointment or made you hold a grudge toward God.
View these areas through scripture and the message of the gospel.
Lord, strip my heart of anger toward you and replace it with joy.
- Ponder
Just because God allows things, even bad things, to happen, does not mean He thinks they are right.
God is always working.
Jesus’ payment on the cross for all our sin. His death and Resurrection are His provision that one day, it WILL all be worked out.
Consider Revelation 21: 4-5. Visualize all things made new. (portions from Insight Magazine, August 11, 2017)
Section 3: Forgiving Ourselves
- Read
I Timothy 1: 15 – 17
2 Corinthians 1: 3-7
I John 1:9
I John 2: 1-2
Galatians 5:1
- Reflect
What is the Lord speaking to your heart?
Place yourself in Paul’s shoes. Consider the magnitude of his sin and then his transformation.
Contemplate Colossians 1:22 – without blemish and free from accusation
What does this mean to you?
Re-read 1 Timothy 1: 15 – 16 – insert your name and the sin that put Jesus on the cross. Dwell upon His forgiveness. How can your sin, and Christ’s immense patience and mercy provide an example for others in your sphere of influence?
- Pray
Surrender to God the thoughts you’ve considered. Give thanks to Him for His patience and mercy.
Pray and stand upon Romans 8:1
- Ponder
Forgiving ourselves, ultimately comes from understanding God’s forgiveness. When we understand God’s forgiveness offered freely to us, we can extend that same first to ourselves… and then to others.
Section 4: Forgiving Others
- Read
Matthew 6:14
Matthew 18:21-35 (read through slowly and re-read)
- Reflect
God calls us to forgive others as He has forgiven us. That’s a heavy calling when we consider all that God has, and continues, to forgive in our lives. But, when we recall His grace and mercy and how His forgiveness is offered freely to us, how can we not forgive others?
Whom do you need to forgive?
What is holding you back?
- Pray
Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth and healing as you pray through these areas.
Lord, reveal your truth in my life for any unforgiveness that may be present.
Pray over the one(s) you need to forgive: Lord, I thank you for ______ and ask you to bless _______ .
Lord, soften my heart to release any anger or bitterness.
Lord, bring healing to the hurt, broken relationship, destroyed trust that this problem has caused in my life and in the life of ________.
- Ponder
If we have been forgiven, how can we not extend that same forgiveness to others?
How can I put action to the healing I am asking from the Lord?
What are my next steps?
Notes:
Surrender
What do you need to surrender to the Lord during this quiet retreat?
Intercession: Breathe Out: Closing of Your Personal Prayer Retreat
Lift Up Others
- Who needs your prayers?
- Who needs God’s forgiveness?
Be Sent Out
- What is God asking of you today with what you’ve prayed over?
Pray For These Upcoming Important Happenings at HCC
April 2: Baptism Weekend
April 7-9: Easter Services
April 23: Outside the Walls Fair (our local community partners will be on campus and HCC members can sign up to volunteer)
April 30: Darryl Strawberry
Go in forgiveness and peace.
We welcome your feedback, as we want to offer these regularly at HCC. Please send your input to knelson@harvester.cc. Thanks!
Please join us for our Holy Thursday Prayer Service
on April 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel