Refreshed by God Series: One

Refreshing
Refreshed by God Series One

Net's Notations Tuesdays

It’s vacation season, or you could call it summer. *grin* Where is your favorite place to go? Kids are out of school, weather turns nice. You get away.

Well, now that summer is winding down, are you planning any last minute trips to get away?

One summer, we took our usual trip to a favorite spot. Whole family piled into the van and off we went with gear galore. (the only way to travel)

As often happens, I anticipated great inspiration and some downtime to write while away. So, my laptop was tucked into the van as we headed out.

We arrived at our location, unpacked and settled in. Kids trucked down to the beach. Husband grabbed a good book or some other project and it was time to write! Unpack the laptop, search for the cord. No cord. Uh-oh. Really? No electric cord? No way to recharge my elderly battery which cannot hold a charge no matter what I do? Drains in about 2.5 minutes. Ugh! I forgot my cord.

Then I hear God tell me He wants me to truly relax. To set the computer aside. (I don’t write without it—i.e. paper and pen—too frustratingly slow.) To rest. To relax. To let Him refresh me.

What a concept—take a break!

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. (Psalm 23:1-2)

Thing about that beautiful passage as it relates with our being refreshed—we have to follow the Good Shepherd as He leads us to destinations meant to help us relax. Can I hear an Amen?

Suppose I had grabbed a pen and notebook and hid in the back bedroom and defied the gentle command to rest? Welcome, resentment. Welcome, bitterness. Welcome, frustrating vacation. But I didn’t. I recognized the loving care of my Shepherd and actually took a much-needed break from writing and its stressors. Sat in the sunshine. Communed with family and the Lord. Journaled. Rejuvenated.

A true vacation.

Is God gentling drawing you away for some R&R? Follow. You’ll be glad you did.