You would think by now that God does not surprise me when he answers my prayers, . . .  but I’m still a little gitty when God does what he does. The truth is the things we generally ask God for are completely out of our control, so all we can do is patiently wait and allow Him to work out our desired outcome.

We just came out of the weekend of our 6th Annual Stay Focused Christian Writer’s Retreat. It was Amazing! Our prayer from the beginning, “God please allow our attendees to have an intimate experience with you and with one another. Let our attendees receive what they came for and more. Give them rest and relaxation. We pray all retreat attendees learn something new and are able to  apply what they have learned to their current or future projects. In Jesus name, Amen!”

Saying a prayer is easy, however walking it out to the finish, is another story. In the midst of walking out a prayer we have to fight fear, fight doubt, anger, disappointments, etc. So along the way we stay in prayer over every part of the retreat. Other things we prayed for was: the number in attendance, God give them gifts from us that are useful, bring someone in attendance who was here before, and add your Holy Spirit to the retreat experience.  God did it, He did all of it and more.

Hosting and planning events are challenging. Be encouraged! Be encouraged! Be encouraged! “Who [with reason] despises the day of small things (beginnings)?…” Zechariah 4:10a “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him:…” Psalm 62:8 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

Our Retreat theme is always Stay Focused. And our theme scripture is, Colossians 3:1 International Standard Version (ISV) “Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah, keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiah is seated at the right hand of God.” Success is always the result when we trust God and put everything in His hands. Stay Focused and see for yourself, Won’t He Do It!