How Can We Pray for You?

We’re just days away from our global community experiencing the 2018 Velvet Ashes Retreat, and here is the phrase that keeps circling in my head:

“Anything good and significant is only by the movement of the Holy Spirit.”

We could have incredible videos, a beautiful website, and the most amazing Retreat all ready for you, but without the movement of the Holy Spirit, it will all be simply a nice way to spend a weekend.

What has made this Retreat such a remarkable experience for so many of us in the past is the way that the Spirit of God has shown up and spoken to us in an intimate, personal, transformative way. We’re praying this will happen for each one of us.

Because here is the other phrase that keeps going through my mind:

“The movement of God is mysteriously connected to the prayers of His people.”

Heading into this Retreat, the deep desire of our team is to cover, to bathe, and to soak this Retreat in prayer. We know that it is no small feat to clear your schedule for a day or two, to get away to spend time with God. And we know the enemy does not want us to go have this time devoted to encountering God.  I say this not to create a spirit of fear, for we are daughters of an almighty God. I say it to create an awareness.

May we walk into this Retreat with mindfulness, alert and prayerful, so that our hearts are tuned in and ready to encounter what God has for each of us. Can we dare to trust and believe that God is going to meet us and speak into us during this Retreat?

Can we grasp the staggering fact that more than a thousand women in more than 95 countries are heading into this Retreat with you and me? We are not alone. We have this huge sisterhood of support. Can we link virtual hands and pray for each other as we prepare for this Retreat?

How can we pray for you?

What logistics can we pray for? What heart issues can pray for?

What are you longing for as you head into your Retreat? What are your fears, concerns or worries?

What do you want us to join you in asking God for?

Share in the comments, and let’s support one another in prayer.

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A few Retreat details to know:

  1. If you’re not yet registered, now’s the time! Register for the whole Retreat experience for just $15 here.
  2. Access to the Retreat is NOW OPEN. You can log in here and check it all out. You can print out the Retreat Guide and start gathering the list of simple supplies.
  3. If your internet access will be at all slow or unreliable, we recommend downloading the videos ahead of time.
  4. You’re invited to join us for a Live Chat to share and process your Retreat experience. Choose a time and convert to your time zone.
  • Sunday April 22 at 9pm Eastern Standard Time
  • Monday April 23 at 9am Eastern Standard Time

Photo by Andrea Tummons on Unsplash

14 Comments

  1. JE April 15, 2018

    You can pray that my heart will be open to hear what God will speak to me during the retreat, that I will be humble enough to act on anything He convicts me of, and that I will learn more of His character. I am longing for rest in Him and a true understanding of who I am in Christ as a beloved daughter of the kingdom, not a servant, hired hand, or casual acquaintance. I am asking God for wisdom and His clear direction in steps I should take in the near future as well as a career/calling for my life, and for trust in Him no matter what happens.

    1. Danielle Wheeler April 16, 2018

      Father, I imagine you delighting in the heart desires that JE shares here. During her retreat, draw her into your rest. Pour into her a deep revelation of who she is in you. As she comes to you with an open, humble heart, speak to her in an intimate way. Assure her of the security that is hers because she is yours. As she seeks your direction, grant wisdom, give clarity. Speak over her the peace that is possible only in you. Amen.

  2. Miri April 15, 2018

    Please pray for an heart and mind, that I will be able to leave behind daily life and spend time with God. No space for distraction. Thank you

    1. Danielle Wheeler April 16, 2018

      Lord Jesus, as Miri comes away with you, may the cares and worries and responsibilities slip from her shoulders into your hands. Would you hold them for her? Lay a protective covering over her to block the distractions. Quiet her heart and mind and speak to her during this time in an intimate, powerful way. Amen.

  3. Cindy April 15, 2018

    Please pray that God would help and encourage my heart. Please pray that I would know His love for me more deeply, and that I would know His will for my life.

    1. Danielle Wheeler April 16, 2018

      God, you hear Cindy’s heart cry. You know every part of her. During her retreat, would you fill her with a rushing awareness of your overwhelming love for her. Would you speak into her the word, the guidance, the assurance she is longing for. Amen.

  4. AY April 15, 2018

    I signed up for the retreat at the last minute last year, and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I thought this year I’d sign up early. The past few weeks, I’ve been feeling a little like, “Oh, maybe I can put it off and not do it right away since I have other things I need to do right now.” But just today, something I feared would happen did, and a flood of hurt that had been neatly tucked away came rushing back out. Needless to say, God caught my attention that and I think this retreat comes at a good time! So prayers of thankfulness for His providence and timing, and also that it would be a time of refreshment before dealing further with the hurt.

    1. Danielle Wheeler April 16, 2018

      I’m so sorry for the flood of hurt you’re experiencing, AY. Grateful that the timing of the retreat will provide space for you to be with Jesus in the midst of this hurt. I am asking and trusting that He will tend your heart with his tender loving care.

  5. JB April 16, 2018

    I had been wishy-washy about whether I would participate navigating life with two young daughters after just hitting 6 months in our first assignment. I also thought…I just went to a retreat in February- surely I don’t need to have another retreat. Then, WHAM! When I thought we were settling in to our new culture it became very clear that we, particularly my husband, had not been actually dealing with a lot of the transition but just suppressing it until it boiled over in a very bad way. So I am going to make arrangements today so I can participate.

    1. Danielle Wheeler April 16, 2018

      God is so good like that, to provide what we don’t even know we need, isn’t he? And man, transition is like that, the pain and the effects sneak up in unexpected ways! Praying that the arrangements will fall into place for you. Jesus, will you come an minister to JB’s heart during her retreat? Please tend the pain in her heart from all the transition, from the reeling pain of the “boiling over” moment. Touch her with sustaining love, with your peace that surpasses all understanding. Amen.

  6. Joanne Godard April 16, 2018

    Last year, just a couple of days before the VA Retreat, I received a diagnosis of Stage 2 breast cancer. Throughout the retreat, God gently whispered to me peace and courage for the journey ahead. It has been a year of deep abiding with the Father and RECEIVING His feeding, sustaining and strengthening all along the way. I finished treatment 5 weeks ago, but in the process of tests, a tumour has been discovered on my right ovary- I’ll be having surgery on April 24th. On the retreat weekend I’ll be traveling to Canada for the surgery, so plan on doing the retreat (minus the kickboxing ?) during my recovery weeks. Please pray for God’s healing in my body, and that in this retreat time I would hear His word that will Sustain me for whatever this year’s journey will be.

    1. Danielle Wheeler April 16, 2018

      Oh, Joanne… my heart aches to hear what you’re going through…

      Father, thank you for the way that you have sustained Joanne this past year. Thank you for the tender timing of last year’s retreat. Thank you for the deep abiding she has experienced in you. Please, Jesus, bring your healing to Joanne’s body. Please meet her in such intimate ways before, during, and after her surgery. Would you give her your sustaining word, your comforting presence, your abiding peace. Amen.

  7. Karen C April 17, 2018

    Because I am in my last week in Central Asia for the time being, it looks difficult for an opportunity to do the retreat until I arrive in Colorado first of May. But maybe… Pray that God will show me how and when. And keep sending those reminder emails!

  8. Angela April 24, 2018

    First let us give the Lord thanks for the abundance of all things.Please pray that the Lord would deliver his people from evil men; That the Lord would preserve his people from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. Pray against the spirit of anti Christ,false witness,terrorism hatred and violence. Please pray and intercede without ceasing that God’s will be done in the lives of the world’s leaders and for our leaders to seek God and listen to Him. Pray that they would be surrounded by godly counsel and, that our leadership would personally know God and the salvation found through faith in Jesus Christ alone. That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. God can turn the hearts of kings. Earnestly pray that the people of America and its leaders will humble themselves and seek the Lords face and turn from their wicked ways. Pray that the Lord would hear from heaven and forgive our countries sins and heal our land. God Bless America Pray that the Lord would grant peace in America, that we may lie down and no one will make us afraid. That the Lord would remove wild beasts from the land, and that the sword will not pass through our country and that President Trump along with our leaders be filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might to declare the sins of Gods people. Please pray for revival and that the Lord would pour out his spirit on his servants, throughout the world both men and women. Pray for the peace of Israel. Gods will be done on earth as it is in heaven.In Jesus Name, Amen.

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