Please don't refresh this page.
We are submitting all your information.


This takes few seconds.
It will redirect after submission.
Devotional

Soul Refreshment

by KATY BRINK REFRESH Obedience Quiet time with the Lord Abide Spiritual wellness
Soul Refreshment
“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.”
Psalms 19:7a

We recently planted a new hydrangea in our front garden. Hydrangeas are some of my favorite flowers, and I was surprised to learn that they actually do well in northern Europe where I live. My new little plant looks quite small next to my older, heartier hydrangeas, but it will grow over time just like they did. Hydrangeas do need some sun, but mine quickly let me know if they’ve had too much. My new plant is especially fragile. I imagine it working really hard to push its roots deep into the ground and being worn out at the end of each day’s work. 


How do these plants, even the stronger ones, let me know that they’re in need of water? Their leaves go limp, turned down, appearing very tired and thirsty. If I ignore them for days and weeks, not taking the time to water them, they might have a hard time recovering, but if I pay attention to what they’re telling me and give them regular water, those leaves perk right back up. No permanent damage done – they simply needed water. They needed to be refreshed. 


We understand the need for physical refreshment; we eat, drink, and sleep when our bodies have the need. We can even listen to small cues our bodies give us: I know, for example, that if I’m able to sit down and close my eyes for 10-15 minutes in the afternoon, I am better equipped to finish the day well. As Christians we’re also aware of our need for spiritual refreshment, but perhaps sometimes we consider the source of that refreshment to be special occasions like a conference or retreat. While those can be wonderful times of spiritual renewal, do we sometimes forget that the Bible teaches that itself, God’s Word, “the law of the Lord” in Old Testament terms, refreshes our souls – and not just at conferences?! Regular time in God’s Word, even if it doesn’t feel magical or renewing or special each time, brings refreshment to our tired and thirsty souls, and we neglect it at our own risk. May we be women who turn to reading and obeying God’s Word for our soul’s refreshment!


Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your Word. Forgive us for sometimes neglecting it or seeing it as not as important as other things in our lives. We are saved totally by grace, but as a response to our salvation, help us to grow in our desire to be students and readers of your Word and to obey it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Resources
Resource: Bible Reading Plan I know that not everyone loves an actual Bible reading plan, but I’ve found over the years that having one keeps me on track, even if I don’t complete it in a year. This one was written by Robert Murray M’Cheyne and takes you through the Bible in a year, doing the Psalms and New Testament twice. If this particular plan seems like too much, there are less “ambitious” ones out there. The important thing is to read!
Question for Reflection

What lies do you sometimes believe about God’s Word or your time in it? How have you seen it refresh your soul recently?

Comments
Katy Brink
June 06, 2022

Sometimes I believe the lie that even spending just 5-10 minutes reading God’s Word during the day won’t really have that big of an impact. But as my pastor recently reminded us, the Bible is our spiritual food. Some days we might only have time for fast food, and other days we have time for a longer, multi-course meal. But we’re still feeding ourselves either way, and the effect is cumulative. Just the other night, as I was having a hard time going to sleep because of some worry about a situation, I recalled what I had read from Ephesians earlier that day and was able to meditate on those words until I fell asleep!