Refreshing

… I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.

(Ezekiel 34:26, NKJV)

Water is a critical component of our lives and its uses are varied.  We are told that one can live without food for a while but would not go for long without water.  Water as a liquid is part of our body composition and there are times when we have a unique thirst which only water can quench.  Additives in water do not take away the refreshing taste of pure water when one is thirsty.  When we fail to take enough water, our bodies also show and medical personnel are known to emphasize on the quantities of water that we require per day.  Water is not only useful as a liquid for ingestion but is special when it comes to refreshing our physical bodies.  During hot seasons when one is all sweaty, a shower is a game changer.  This is also true when one is unwell, it might be difficult  to take a shower during moments of ill health, but when we do, our bodies are refreshed.  This is the power of water, standing under a shower rejuvenates our bodies and and our minds.  Most creatives will tell of new songs and books that they have composed during a shower, many people are also known to sing only when they are in the shower.  The power of water on our whole being cannot be ignored as it renews and refreshes us in a manner that nothing else does.

 As I reflected on the essence of water in our lives, I considered how the Holy Spirit of God is compared to water.  We know that God gave us the Holy Spirit who lives in us as a guarantee of faith (2 Corinthians 5:5).  In our daily walk of faith, we experience the Holy Spirit as bubbling in our inner man, flowing into our senses to perceive and receive the will of God. The Holy Spirit causes rivers of living waters to flow from our bellies as we worship and speak the word of God(John 7:38).  It is in times of praise, worship and deep prayer, moments when we commune with God that we get to experience the free flow of the Holy Spirit.  This experience strengthens our inner man, renews our connection with God, refreshes our spirits and helps us face another day of faith.  It is no wonder that when we have spent time in the presence of God, our hearts are peaceful and quite often all we want is to stay in that place of communing with God.  Just as the water resets our mortal bodies the Holy Spirit works on our spirits and strengthens us for the journey and battles ahead.  The Holy Spirit of God is our comforter, our guide, our helper, one who sticks with us through it all giving us the power to overcome and keep to the journey.  As we acknowledge the power of the Holy Spirit within us, may we learn to seek His presence more and more.  In moments of struggle and weakness, spending time in worship and praise will change the perspective of our circumstances.  Yes, there are moments when our hearts are too heavy to sing, but even in these situations, staying in an atmosphere of praise and worships lifts the burdens of our hearts.  Don Moen has a powerful song “I will Sing” - where he acknowledges that it is difficult to praise, but even in those moments he chooses to praise God through the tears.  Beloved, let us be ones who court the Holy Spirit of God for our refreshing and strength.  Just as we deliberately seek showers to be refreshed, may we learn to seek the presence of the Holy Spirit who feeds our spirits.

 Thoughts:

How are your moments of refreshing?

What has been your experience soaking in the Holy Spirit?

What hinders your communing with the Holy Spirit?