A Word to Live Into

An icy cold drink on a hot day.

A cool breeze at the summit of a long hike.

A clear kitchen countertop to greet you.

An encouraging word from a loved one during a challenging time.

These are some things that refresh.

We need refreshment. We were made to be refreshed.

We hear a lot about rest. We need rest. Many of us need more rest. But did you know that we need more than that? We need a rest that leads to refreshment. This is how things were intended to be. It is a sign of a flourishing life. We need time to rest and be refreshed.

We all do well with understanding the basics. We recognize the importance of exercise, sleep, and eating well. We may realize that we are distracted or preoccupied. We may be aware of other things that would help refresh us.  Some may need quiet, silence, and sleep. Others may need people, noise, and play.

We understand that an icy-cold drink on a hot day will refresh us, but if you think about it, it also serves another purpose. It satisfies us. That is what we really need:  to live satisfied and content; to be at peace. That is a deeper kind of refreshment.

Psalm 23 conveys it - “He restores my soul.” The word "soul" in the Bible typically refers to the essence of a person or their life. Psalm 19 tells us, “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.” Let’s not miss the first thing we learn here - our soul needs to be restored. Our soul needs to be refreshed and revitalized. God has the power to refresh you. God’s words are life, and they can wake you up to who you are really meant to be. God can revive or refresh your soul.

We painted our basement this past month. We have been living with dreary, dull walls down there for quite some time. One wall is made of concrete, and the other wall is a combination of drywall and paneling. My daughter found a beautiful color, and to our surprise, a fresh coat of paint not only refreshed the space but also revealed the room's potential. What was once problematic is now satisfying to the eye.

While a fresh coat of paint can dramatically reinvigorate a space, refreshing our souls is a more ongoing process. We need to find a way to get out our paint brushes daily. Have you ever considered adopting a habit of refreshment? Perhaps you already have one, but you just never thought of it in that way.

When the grass is brown and dry in the middle of the summer, it is easy to see that it needs rain. When we reach the end of our rope, it becomes easy to see that we need help. But did you know that a wellspring of life is available to you now? Jesus refers to himself as living water. He can refresh your soul. But it only happens if we are open to receiving it. We need to be receptive to receive the refreshment of God’s goodness and love.

I know a man who was in a time of uncertainty. He decided to get a bird feeder. Each morning, he spent time watching the birds. Over time, he felt as though he had come to know the birds, and he began to love them and his time with them. Then one morning, as he was looking at the birds, he realized that was how God felt about him. God looked forward to being with him. God loved him. The Psalmist writes about this as well. Psalm 123 tells us that as we lift our eyes to the Lord, the Lord looks at us with love. His gaze refreshes our soul.

Susan Phillips shares her experience of helping people draw closer to God. She told the story of a lawyer with a very demanding job who discovered a practice that refreshes him.  Phillips asked him to notice if there was anything he did regularly that helped him open his heart to God. He had an unexpected answer - taking a shower. He said it was the one place where he could let go of his work. He noticed that it had become a place where he could stop, be present to God, and pray.

Philips also told the story of a busy working mom who shared: “When I’m most in tune with the Holy, I feel like a sponge.” She imagines herself as a sponge, allowing God’s grace, peace, and goodness to seep into her. As she does this, she finds herself refreshed.*

When we turn our hearts and minds to God, it refreshes us. Our heart rate slows, our minds settle, and our hearts open to the larger world before us. Not only that. It changes us. It opens us up to a way of being that satisfies.

There is one more thing I want to share with you. There is a letter from Paul to Philemon in the Bible where Paul points out that Philemon’s love and care refreshed the hearts of others. Then Paul goes on to ask Philemon to refresh his heart. (Phil 1:7, 20)  We all need rest. We all need to be refreshed. As refreshed people, we can refresh others. Imagine that!

How to live into the word refresh:

1. How do I need to be refreshed right now? What is draining me?

2. Are there things that I do regularly that help me be receptive to God?

3. What is one thing I could do to draw near to God?

4. How could I refresh others?

5. Read and reflect on John 15:4-5, 9

Some other things that can help refresh your soul:

Beauty

Music

Nature

Worship

Art

Prayer

Solitude

Silence

Taking a walk (without technology)

Quality time with loved ones

Sabbath

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* You can find this in The Cultivated Life: From Ceaseless Striving to Receiving Joy by Susan S. Phillips