As I have been studying and praying through this series, it is clear to me it will not fit into one day a week. All the Lord is showing me on how to refresh is going to take 2 days a week! On Mondays, we will have a time of refreshing in the Word and then Tuesdays will be intentionally looking at our lives and build an action plan.
So here we go….
Today we are going to be intentional about offering praise to the Lord and reflecting on 2012, the good and the bad.
I encourage you to find a quiet spot.
You are going to need:
- 30 minutes of quiet
- Your Bible, turned to Psalm 66
- A pen and a journal
- a candle
- quiet music
- something yummy to drink {these last 3 are optional, but I think they enhance the experience!}
1. Take some time to read Psalm 66. Write down any words or thoughts.
The best way to stop focusing on my exhaustion and weariness of soul, my trying circumstances, my pain, is to focus on worship and praise of God. He is worthy to be praised and adored, and my soul cannot help but be lifted and refreshed when I spend time praising Him.
When we don’t turn our eyes on Him, our eyes automatically turn to our self. Charles Spurgeon says this, “He who makes little of God makes much of himself. They who forget adoration fall into adulation. The eyes must see something, and if they admire not God, they will flatter self.”
I find his statement true in my own life. Take a moment to intentionally turn our eyes off of your problems and choose instead to focus on praising Him.
“Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works!’”
“All the earth will worship You, All will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.”
2. Take a few quiet moments and speak to God about His wonderful works. His many blessings. His awesome character. Write them down.
3.Now, let’s take a few moments and reflect on this past year.
How has God been faithful to you this last year? What are some things that show His goodness and love to you? Often, we are too busy or “forget to remember”. Remembering can greatly fortify our souls and bless our hearts as we look at what He has done.
“Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds, toward the sons of men.”
4. Spend some time reflecting on what great things God did in 2012, for you, your marriage, your family.
Write down all the things that come to your mind, big or small.
The psalmist in Psaln 66 remembers the faithfulness of the Lord when he led the Israelites through the Red Sea in verse 6, “He turned the sea into dry land; They passed through the river on foot; There let us rejoice in Him!”
5.Now, as painful as it might me, take moments to reflect on hard things. The painful, broken things God used or is still using to refine you.
“For you have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppresive burden upon our loins. You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and water, Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.”
Spend time thanking God for what He has done and asking Him to continue to heal painful spots. Also ask Him to continue to teach you to trust in Him as you refresh you soul this year.
6.Lastly, share {if you want} with us the things God has done, the joyous and the heart-breaking. Let’s praise Him together for the good things, and see His hand together in the hard things.
“Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.”
Here are mine….
His works in my life in 2012:
- allowed me to grow deeper in my walk with Him
- brought a deepening of close friendships which have been a balm to my soul
- Dave and I started instituting “at home” date night which has renewed our marriage
- our family took several village trips interior, which were life-giving as we did ministry together as a family {you can read about our most recent one here and here}
- the kids and I took a soul-refreshing trip back to the States, and I was able to spend time resting and hanging out with family {and drinking Starbucks!}
- several wonderful things that I am not at liberty to share via the Internet
The hard things that God used {is using} to refine me:
- the devastation of learning family secrets, which led to the blessing of meeting my wonderful brother and deep reconciliation with my family, learning the hard way that brokenness is a gift
- continual pain and exhaustion due to Lupus, that God continues to use in my life to show me how weak I am and how much I need Him in my life.
- experiencing severe burnout, which left me spent, through which God is continuing to show me how to rest in Him
- near constant power outages and the constant yelping of the neighbor’s dog, which I wish I could say have grown me immensely and I am so spiritual I even thank God for the disruptions. But honestly? I am not there. I can survive them, but I am not to the point where I would say I am thankful for them. I pray I might continue to choose here.
