Let’s look at a few practical things we can do to refuel. First we’ll focus on some activities for refuelling our spiritual life. Then next week we’ll look at things related more to our relational and emotional health.
1. Spend Time Alone with God Every Day.
As followers of Christ, God is the source of our very life. As the apostle Paul said, “In him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Yes, our very next breath comes from him. In a very real sense, we are to live our life ‘in God’s presence’ or with an awareness that he is always with us. We are to ‘do life’ together with God, involving him in every aspect of our daily life. ALL of life is sacred and God is interested in every aspect of our lives. However, there is something special than can occur when we pull aside from our daily activities and spend time alone with God, wholly focused on him.
Jesus, the Son of God, came to serve and give his life for others. Yet one of his habits was to regularly pull aside from the crowds of people and from the busyness of ministry. Jesus knew what it was to work hard but he also knew what it was to stop working and get aside with his Father (see Luke 5:15-16). If anyone could have avoided prayer and just kept going without ever getting to empty, it was Jesus. But, no – he stopped, he left the hustle and bustle of all the people around him, and he found a place where he could be alone and talk with his Father. If Jesus needed this, how much more do we! Often when we’re starting to burnout, it can be linked back to a drift in our time alone with God. Like Martha, we’ve become so busy working for God or doing life that we have neglected our time just sitting and being with Jesus like Mary did (Luke 10:38-42).
So what kind of things do we do when we are along with God?
- Enjoy God. Just be still and enjoy his closeness.
- Love and worship him. Express appreciation to him for who he is and all he has done for you.
- Talk to him. Open up your heart and tell him how you feel. Tell him your needs and concerns.
- Listen to God. Ask him to speak to you. Tune in to the ‘small still voice’ of his Spirit within you.
- Read his Word, which are his instructions for our life. His Word is like our ‘daily bread’
- Pray in the Spirit, using your ‘spiritual language’. In doing so, you pray according to the will of God (Rom.8:26-28) and you build up your own faith (Jude 20). It can be like charging your spiritual batteries.
Spending time alone with God can be like taking a long deep drink of fresh water when you’re feeling dry and thirsty. It energises you and refuels you for your journey.
Why would we not spend time with the God who created the universe and who desires the very best for our life? Why would we pursue other less important things, ignoring his offer! Oh, foolish thinkers we often are (Jeremiah 2:13)! How easily we get distracted by things that hinder us from investing our time in what is most valuable – a relationship with the living God!
Thank you for your message on Refuelling, it has come at the perfect time for me personally.
Sunday morning before Church I experienced what could only be called a “mini meltdown”. As a mother of four young children I have neglected my time alone with God, my excuse being that I am too busy, and as a result feel very burnt out and exhausted to say the least.
I loved Nicole’s message when she talked about bending a tree – if you give it enough time to bounch back up again it will do that, but if you hold it down long enough it will break or do damage that will take a long time to repair. I definately related to that as I feel like I have been “broken” with the stress and busyness of life, a bit like that tree!
Thank you and God bless you and your wonderful Ministry, i will be purchasing the series on
Refuelling and listening to it again….
Alisa Jack
Thanks for your encouragement, Alisa. Trust you get some refuelling time this week.