Refresh

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. -Proverbs 11:25

I would love to be the person that does not need to recharge her batteries in the company of only herself. Solitude is necessary for me. I am a rare enneagram 8, introvert.

I love to go to the beach, listen to the waves crash against the shore, rhythmically coming back again and again. The warm sand soothes the ache I feel in my soul. I could stay here for hours, the salt spray mingling with the wind, it pulls my hair and makes me feel like I could fly. This refreshes my soul.

I love being in my husbands embrace. His hands are large and hold mine secure. His arms wrap around me and block out all other stimuli. I am safe here. My head rests at his heart and all I know is that together our hearts beat with longing for Christ's return and I feel at peace. I feel like I am home. This refreshes my soul.

I wrap my hands around my warm coffee mug and watch the sun rise from my garden. The wind moving the branches of the tree's that surround me. The birds are singing and beginning to get to work collecting the provisions God has given them for the day. I sit, quiet, and wait for him to bring my provisions for the day. To fill me with his hope, joy, peace, and love. This refreshes my soul.

My soul is content as I recall being able to pour myself out to others. To speak out at the right time to bring about a change. I am walking in my calling, I am doing the job I was put here to do, minister and counsel others to become more like Christ. This is deep work, it is difficult and involves all of me, but yet, this too refreshes my soul.

Perhaps even more than all the others. I want to be moving water, not stagnate. So as I allow God to pour into me, I pour it right back out: to the lost, the broken, the hurting, the addicted, the suicidal, the depressed... The world is full of people that are just like me, waiting for a miracle and hoping tomorrow will be different. The walking wounded. And yet, my deepest refreshing comes when I am able to help bind their wounds with the healing balm of God's word.

So my prayer for you today is this: I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13