Being Refreshed

It is easy to bend under a load of concern and the burdens of life which tend to weigh us down.  Whether the weight is physical, mental, or emotional we become exhausted and extremely tired shouldering this concern.  Sometimes we are so tired that we do not even have enough energy to pray.  Of course, God knows all about that inability but He still wants us to come to Him despite our feelings so we can be refreshed.

If we want to do the best job that we can possibly do, we need refreshment – physical, emotional, mental and even spiritual.  To be refreshed means to be energized, restored, rejuvenated, or invigorated.  Often, we experience refreshment when we simply take time to rest our bodies.  Other times refreshment comes to us when we spend time in quiet meditation – reading God’s Word and thinking about what it says.  Periodically we can also be refreshed by people, especially those that excel in expressing positive words and acts of kindness.  Here's what the scripture tells us about being refreshed.

1)      God’s word always refreshes.  “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul” (Psalm 19:7).

2)      Refreshing comes when we turn to God.  “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

3)      Refreshing someone else can bring personal refreshment.  A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).

4)      Friends can supply refreshment.  “May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains” (II Timothy 1:16).

5)      Some refreshment comes from eating.  “Refresh yourself with something to eat” (Judges 19:5).

6)      Other refreshment comes as we rest.  Of God it was said, “On the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.” (Exodus 31:17).

We constantly need refreshment, and we need to remember that we can also assist in the refreshment of others.  Why not ask God to help you experience the refreshment you need and make you a good refresher of others through the words that you say, the actions that you take, and the care that you give.