Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at a ladies’ luncheon at a local church. The theme for the event was “Refresh.” All of us have times when we need refreshment, or areas of our lives that need refreshing. Often, we plow ahead, pushing through, rather than acknowledging that we are in a season of drought. But eventually, we reach a point where refreshment is vital if we are to continue with forward motion.
As I thought about “refresh,” many other “re” words came to mind. Following are reflections on refresh and beyond:
Refresh
As I grieve, I’m looking for daily sources of refreshment. Recently I’ve been refreshed by grandchildren giggles, the rising sun on a cool spring morning, greening leaves, words of encouragement, and moments of quiet reflection.
Re-Think
Often, we say we don’t have time to do certain things, or accomplish goals, but it’s more about time not well-spent. We allow time for watching TV, scrolling social media sites, playing online games, or other meaningless pursuits, but can’t seem to focus on health, tasks, or time with God.
Rearrange
Once you rethink, you may find you need to rearrange your life priorities. Rearranging priorities requires discipline and determination. Without them, you’ll never begin the process.
Review
Do you remember as a student having a review day before a test? Reviewing is designed to cement key concepts in your mind. It works only if you have read the material initially and grasped the concepts.
Perhaps you need to reassess and review some elements of your life. Is anything holding you hostage and preventing you from experiencing refreshment? Take time to review. Do you need to give up a habit or change thought patterns?
Renew
Renewal is a continuous process. Many professional jobs require continuing education because technology or laws or some other aspect of the job changes. Personal renewal is also important. We need continuous renewal spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
Revive
Reviving someone whose heart has stopped is a vigorous process. Reviving areas in your life that are barely breathing may require the same kind of intense energy. What vigorous determination will it take to revive an area of your life? Maybe you need to revive your relationship with God or with a family member or friend. Or you may need to revive the desire to work on your health. Or perhaps you need to revive self-care. Sometimes, when life is hard, we forget to give ourselves grace and pay attention to self-care. And, by the way, self-care isn’t selfish. Our bodies are God’s temple, so maintain your temple.
Re-Boot
I confess, I’m not the most tech savvy person. I know a few workarounds if my computer starts doing something wonky. One thing I count on is the refresh button on the computer – that circley symbol with an arrow that refreshes your page. But even the refresh button doesn’t solve all problems.
Once, when I asked my son for help, he gave me advice I’ve remembered since. He said, “whatever is wrong is usually resolved by turning off the device and turning it back on.” In other words, re-booting!
Many of us need a reboot in some area of our lives, don’t we?
Reject
You may have grown up with an ever-present critic, someone who focused on negatives, pointed them out, and rarely saw or commented on your positive qualities. Negative voices from the past, or from Satan, wear us down. And for some reason, we remember those critical words more than we do praise. But we mustn’t allow the past to overshadow the present.
Two of Satan’s most powerful weapons are guilt and regret. He wields those weapons skillfully. Learning to identify when Satan is at work is crucial to rejecting his tactics.
My most recent experience with guilt occurred in January, when I returned from a brief errand and found my lifeless husband.
Almost immediately, guilt hit me. What if I had been at home? Perhaps I could have saved his life. At that moment, I heard, within my spirit, the words “reject these thoughts.” Jim’s death was God’s timing, his plan, his purpose for Jim’s life, and for mine.
What voices, what lies do you need to reject so you can refresh?
Rejoice
Sometimes I think we forget how vital joy is to our well-being. Often, we focus on what is difficult in our lives and allow those challenges to overshadow joy. But we have great reason to rejoice because we are blessed.
Despite missing Jim, I can rejoice because I know he is with Jesus. I know his eternity is secure. He is free from 50 years of type 1 diabetes. I will see him again one day. He is rejoicing, and so am I.
Remember
Although bittersweet, remembering is a source of comfort. I remember the good and downplay the unpleasant. I have a history with God that allows me to remember His faithfulness. God has never let me down. He’s never abandoned me. When life storms come, I can count on God to anchor my rocking boat.
It’s the same for you. Even amid difficult circumstances, remember, you can count on God.
Refresh Again
Earlier this week, I hauled multiple trash bags to the street. I’ve been in the process of sorting through the contents of boxes we brought home from our parents’ houses and haven’t opened in almost 15 years.
As I dragged bags and boxes to the street, I thought of the heavy load many of us carry, dragging our trash from the past. Perhaps your heavy burden is a chronic health condition, a wounded heart, disturbing thoughts from the past, or depression you can’t seem to overcome.
While I was dragging trash, all I could think about was finishing so I could refresh with a cold glass of water and a cool shower. However, I had to do the hard work before getting to enjoy being refreshed.
Refresh is an active verb that requires your participation, your effort. When you’ve completed a hard task, water doesn’t materialize before you. You must put forth the effort to walk to the refrigerator, open it, pick up a water bottle, or pour liquid into a glass.
Beginning today, make refreshment a priority. You will benefit in ways you never imagined.
“I will satisfy those who are weary, and I will refresh every soul in the grips of sorrow” (Jeremiah 31:25 VOICE).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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