prayer retreat

I just ran a prayer retreat this past weekend. It was my first ever - and I feel like it went rather well. It was 2 nights and 1 1/2 days. On Friday - the only full day I think we prayed for around 8 hours - though not straight through! I had never been on a prayer retreat before - so I didn't even know what to expect. I went to some websites to see what others do - to get an idea. Then I dove in, prayed and asked for God's guidance on the plans. We studied the entire book of Colossians - praying through it in the Lectio Divina style. I didn't give too much instruction - or even many guidelines - I just wanted to give the women who came with me an opportunity to put themselves before the Lord and be quiet for a really long time.

I don't think there is enough quiet in our lives.

It was interesting to hear how the Lord interacted with all of us. The first session - a 2 hour block, Col Chapter 1 - seemed to go really well for everyone after getting past our layer of distraction and surface thoughts. But then after that, meeting with the Lord seemed to come pretty easily for everyone. The hour of intercession during our lunch fast went really easily... but then the 2nd 2 hour block - Col chapter 2 was a mixed review some difficult, some easy - but generally it seemed that continuing to press in was more difficult. The 3rd 2 hour block -  Col chapter 3&4 - was quite difficult - we were expecting resolution but not all received what they were hoping for.

At the debrief at dinner that night I asked everyone what they had received from the Lord, what did He highlight for them in scripture, what did they appreciate the most? All were really glad to be set before the Lord for such a long time - for so much quiet - for such a unique opportunity. Everyone it seemed had received different things from the Lord, one women looked at suffering, one at thankfulness and being brought into the kingdom of light, one at the will of God, one at the promises of God, one at fear. God had met with us all so differently - so tailored according to our needs, yet we were all reading the same text.

I don't know if I would do anything different... should I have given more spiritual direction? Should I have debriefed with each woman afterwards? Should we have given more specific instruction? I am really unsure... I guess the Lord will show me over time.