Brave Hearted Ministry Summer Retreat: Session Five: Keep Moving Forward by Rev. Maria Guzman

 

Brave Hearted Ministry Summer Retreat

Session Five — Keep Moving Forward

Living Brave Heartedly

“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

Hello Brave Hearted Steppers,

We made it to our final session!

I pray this retreat has been a meaningful time of drawing closer to God, slowing down, listening for His voice, remaining connected to Christ, and releasing the burdens you were never meant to carry alone.

Over these past weeks, we have taken a journey together.

We learned to Arrive.

We learned to Be Still.

We learned to Remain.

We learned to Release.

And now, God is inviting us to take our next step.

Keep Moving Forward.

The end of this retreat is not the end of your journey.

It is the beginning of a new Brave Hearted step.

Retreat Moment

Before you begin this final session, take a slow, deep breath.

Pause.

Look back for a moment.

Think about where you were when you first began this retreat.

What was happening in your heart?

What were you carrying?

What were you praying about?

What were you hoping God would do?

Now ask yourself:

What has changed?

Maybe your circumstances have changed.

Maybe they haven’t.

Maybe God answered a prayer.

Maybe you are still waiting.

Maybe He gave you direction.

Maybe He gave you peace.

Maybe He revealed something about Himself.

Maybe He revealed something about you.

Maybe the greatest change is simply that you are not standing in the same place spiritually where you began.

Take a moment to thank God.

Thank Him for every moment.

The answered prayers.

The unanswered prayers.

The quiet moments.

The difficult moments.

The moments when you felt His presence.

And even the moments when you wondered where He was.

God has been with you through every step.

As you begin this final session, ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize what God has been doing in you and prepare your heart for the steps ahead.

The retreat may be ending.

But your journey continues.

Welcome & Reflection

There is something powerful about reaching the end of a journey.

We look back and remember where we started.

We recognize how far we have come.

We celebrate what God has done.

But eventually, we have to move forward.

That can be exciting.

It can also be uncomfortable.

Sometimes we become so focused on what God did in the previous season that we are afraid to step into the next one.

We may want to stay where we are comfortable.

We may wonder if we are ready.

We may question whether we have enough faith.

Enough strength.

Enough courage.

Enough understanding.

But God does not ask us to know everything about the road ahead before we take the next step.

He simply asks us to trust Him.

Throughout this retreat, we have been learning how to walk with God.

We began by learning to Arrive.

We slowed down and intentionally entered His presence.

Then we learned to Be Still.

We quieted the noise so we could listen.

Next, we learned to Remain.

We discovered that our strength comes from staying connected to Jesus, the True Vine.

Then we learned to Release.

We practiced surrendering our worries, fears, disappointments, and burdens into God’s hands.

And now we arrive at our final invitation:

Keep Moving Forward.

This is what it means to live Brave Heartedly.

Living Brave Heartedly does not mean that we are never afraid.

It does not mean that we always know what to do.

It does not mean that we will never experience disappointment, uncertainty, or difficulty.

Living Brave Heartedly means that even when we are afraid, we choose to trust God.

Even when we do not know the way, we take the next step.

Even when we feel weak, we remember where our strength comes from.

Even when we cannot see what is ahead, we trust the One who already sees it.

Brave Hearted is not the absence of fear.

Brave Hearted is choosing faith in the presence of fear.

There may be moments when God asks you to step into something new.

A new season.

A new assignment.

A new opportunity.

A new relationship.

A new ministry.

A new level of faith.

There may also be moments when moving forward means simply continuing to do what God has already called you to do.

Keep praying.

Keep believing.

Keep serving.

Keep loving.

Keep trusting.

Keep showing up.

Keep walking.

Sometimes the bravest step is not a giant leap.

Sometimes it is simply taking one more Brave Hearted step.

One step of obedience.

One step of faith.

One step toward healing.

One step toward forgiveness.

One step toward your calling.

One step toward the future God is preparing for you.

You may not know exactly where every step will lead.

But you can trust the One who walks beside you.

As we close this retreat, I want you to remember something:

You are not going back to the person you were before this retreat.

You are moving forward with what God has taught you.

You are moving forward with greater awareness of His presence.

You are moving forward with a quieter heart.

You are moving forward connected to Christ.

You are moving forward with surrendered burdens.

You are moving forward with faith.

And you are moving forward with God.

The retreat ends here.

But your Brave Hearted journey continues.

Key Scriptures

"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NLT)

“Be strong and courageous”

God’s command to Joshua was not based on Joshua’s ability to predict the future. His courage was rooted in God’s presence.

We can move forward because we do not move forward alone.

“The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Our courage comes from knowing that God’s presence goes with us into every place and every season.

"18 “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. 19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:18–19 (NLT)

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

“I am about to do something new.”

God reminds His people that He is not limited to what He has done before. He is always able to lead us into something new.

Moving forward sometimes requires us to release our attachment to the past so we can recognize what God is doing in the present.

"13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Philippians 3:13–14 (NLT)

“I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

“I press on.”

Paul describes the Christian journey as one of continuing forward. We can learn from the past without allowing it to define our future.

God is still writing our story.

"5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”

“He will show you which path to take.”

Moving forward requires trust.

We may not understand every step, but we can trust the God who sees the entire path.

"So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up." Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

“Let us not become tired of doing what is good.”

“At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Sometimes moving forward simply means refusing to quit.

Faithfulness may feel ordinary, but God sees every step.

"1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT)

“Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus.”

Our journey requires endurance, but we do not run alone or without direction.

We keep moving forward by keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Reflection Questions

Take a few quiet moments with the Lord and reflect:

1. As I look back over this retreat, what has God been teaching me?

2. Which session—Arrive, Be Still, Remain, or Release—spoke most deeply to my heart, and why?

3. What has God been asking me to leave behind?

4. What is God inviting me to move toward?

5. How can I continue the practices I have learned during this retreat?

Journal Prompts

Write honestly before the Lord:

1. “When I began this retreat, I was…”

2. “Today, I recognize that God has been…”

3. “The greatest thing I have learned about God during this retreat is…”

4. “The greatest thing I have learned about myself is…”

5. “Lord, as I move forward, I trust You with…”

Take time to celebrate your journey.

Write down the ways you have grown.

Write down the prayers God has answered.

Write down the prayers you are still waiting on.

Write down the moments when you sensed His presence.

And write down the things you are believing God for in the days ahead.

Your story is still being written.

Pause, Pray, Take 30!

As we close this retreat, we will continue carrying the Pause, Pray, Take 30! practice with us.

This is not something that ends when the retreat ends.

It is a simple way to remain aware of God’s presence in the middle of everyday life.

When you feel overwhelmed:

Pause.

When you feel afraid:

Pray.

When you do not know what to do:

Take 30 seconds to reconnect with God.

“Never stop praying.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)

Your relationship with God does not end when you close your Bible.

His presence does not disappear when the retreat ends.

He is with you in the ordinary.

He is with you in the waiting.

He is with you in the unknown.

He is with you in the next step.

Today’s Pause Prompt

Pause wherever you are.

Take a deep breath.

Place your hand over your heart.

Whisper: “Lord, thank You for walking with me this far. Help me trust You with every Brave Hearted step ahead.”

Take thirty seconds.

Breathe.

Remember.

You are not alone.

Then say: “I will keep moving forward with God.”

Practice

As this retreat comes to an end, create a personal plan for continuing your Brave Hearted journey.

Choose one or more:

1. Continue practicing Pause, Pray, Take 30! throughout your day.

2. Set aside intentional time with God each morning or evening.

3. Choose one Scripture from this retreat to carry with you into the next season.

4. Continue journaling your prayers, questions, and reflections.

5. Revisit these retreat sessions whenever you need to slow down, reconnect, surrender, or begin again.

Remember:

Arrive.

Be Still.

Remain.

Release.

Keep Moving Forward.

These are not simply five retreat sessions.

They are practices you can carry into every season of your life.

Prayer

Father God, Thank You.

Thank You for meeting me throughout this journey.

Thank You for inviting me to come away from the noise and spend time with You.

Thank You for every moment You have used to speak to my heart.

Thank You for teaching me to arrive.

Thank You for teaching me to be still.

Thank You for reminding me to remain connected to Jesus.

Thank You for helping me release the burdens I was never meant to carry alone.

And now, Lord, I ask You to help me keep moving forward.

Give me courage for every Brave Hearted step ahead.

When I am afraid, remind me that You are with me.

When I feel uncertain, remind me that You are my guide.

When I feel weak, remind me that Your strength is sufficient.

When I become discouraged, remind me not to give up.

When I do not understand the path ahead, help me trust the One who already knows the way.

Help me not to return to the places You have called me to leave.

Help me not to pick up the burdens You have asked me to release.

Help me remain connected to You when life becomes busy again.

Let everything You have planted in my heart during this retreat continue to grow.

Help me carry Your peace into my home.

Your love into my relationships.

Your Word into my decisions.

Your presence into my ordinary moments.

And Your courage into every new opportunity You place before me.

Lord, I do not know everything that is waiting for me in the days ahead.

But I know You will be there.

So I choose to move forward.

I choose faith over fear.

I choose trust over control.

I choose obedience over comfort.

I choose hope over discouragement.

I choose to keep my eyes on Jesus.

Whatever comes next, I will remember:

You are with me.

You are for me.

You are guiding me.

You are strengthening me.

And You will never leave me.

I am ready for my next Brave Hearted step.

Not because I know exactly where I am going, but because I know who is walking with me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Brave Hearted Challenge

As we close this retreat, your challenge is simple:

Take your next Brave Hearted step.

Not every step.

Not the entire journey.

Just the next one.

Ask God:

“Lord, what is my next Brave Hearted step?”

Then listen.

Maybe your next step is forgiveness.

Maybe it is obedience.

Maybe it is starting something new.

Maybe it is returning to something God called you to do.

Maybe it is trusting Him in the waiting.

Maybe it is simply continuing to walk faithfully where He has already placed you.

Whatever your next step is, do not underestimate it.

Small steps of obedience can lead to significant places in God’s plan.

In your journal, write:

My next Brave Hearted step is:

The fear I need to surrender is:

The truth I will remember is:

The Scripture I will carry with me is:

The way I will continue growing with God is:

Then write this declaration:

“I will keep moving forward. I will not be ruled by fear. I will trust God with my present and future. I will remain connected to Jesus. I will release what I cannot control. And I will walk Brave Heartedly into the next season God has prepared for me.”

If you feel comfortable, share your reflection in the blog comments.

Tell us:

What is your next Brave Hearted step?

Your testimony may be the encouragement someone else needs to take theirs.

Your story matters.

Your journey matters.

And your next step matters.

Brave Hearted Blessing

As you leave this retreat, may you never forget the moments God met you here.

May you carry the peace you found in His presence.

May you carry the wisdom He gave you in the stillness.

May you remain deeply rooted in Christ.

May you release every burden that was never yours to carry.

May you walk into your next season with courage.

When you cannot see the road ahead, may you trust the One who can.

When you feel afraid, may you remember that God is with you.

When you feel weak, may His strength carry you.

When you feel discouraged, may His promises renew your hope.

May you continue to arrive in His presence.

May you continue to be still before Him.

May you continue to remain connected to Him.

May you continue to release your burdens into His hands.

And may you keep moving forward—one Brave Hearted, faith-filled step at a time.

May you never forget:

You are deeply loved.

You are never alone.

You are being guided.

You are being strengthened.

And you are held by a faithful God.

So go forward with courage.

Go forward with faith.

Go forward with hope.

Go forward knowing that the God who met you at the beginning of this retreat will be with you in every step that comes next.

Keep Moving Forward.

Live Brave Heartedly.

Walk Brave Heartedly.

Rev. Maria Guzman

Founder of Brave Hearted Ministry

Retreat Closing — A Final Word to the Brave Hearted Steppers

Dear Brave Hearted Steppers,

As we come to the end of our five-week journey together, I want you to know how grateful I am that you chose to take this journey with me.

Thank you for showing up.

Thank you for making space for God.

Thank you for opening your heart.

Thank you for slowing down.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for surrendering.

Thank you for taking these Brave Hearted steps.

I pray that this retreat reminded you of something simple but powerful:

God is with you.

He was with you before this retreat began.

He has been with you throughout every session.

And He will be with you long after this retreat ends.

There may be days when you feel strong.

There may be days when you feel weak.

There may be days when you know exactly what to do.

There may be days when you have no idea what comes next.

But on every day, God remains faithful.

So, Brave Hearted Stepper, keep going.

Keep praying.

Keep trusting.

Keep listening.

Keep remaining.

Keep releasing.

Keep believing.

Keep taking Brave Hearted steps.

And when you stumble, remember that you can always begin again.

When you feel lost, return to His presence.

When life becomes noisy, be still.

When you feel disconnected, remain in Christ.

When the burdens become heavy, release them to God.

And when God calls you forward, take the next Brave Hearted step.

You do not have to have the entire journey figured out.

You only need to trust the One who is walking beside you.

The retreat may be over.

But your Brave Hearted journey continues.

So wherever God leads you next…

Keep Moving Forward.

Live Brave Heartedly.

Walk Brave Heartedly.

Rev. Maria Guzman

Founder, Brave Hearted Ministry

“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT)