Spiritual Refreshment

Welcome and thank you for joining us for tonight's our daily bread evening meditation.

This is your time to come in stillness before God.

The prince of peace and the God of all comfort invites you to spend time with him this evening

to wind down from the busyness of today and find refreshment and strength from his presence

and his word.

As we begin our reflective time tonight, try to get as comfortable as possible.

Make some deep, calming breaths.

Your needs are specific to you.

Perhaps you have responsibilities that make you physically tired.

Or maybe your day has been slow, leaving you with a dissatisfied feeling.

God knows what you need.

He brings rest to the weary and comfort for the lost or lonely.

Whatever refreshment would quench your soul this evening, God understands and can meet

that need.

Trust him.

Heavenly Father, thank you that you have seen my day, my week.

You know where I am growing tired or losing hope.

Thank you that you not only know me completely, but you are the key to redeeming what has

been lost.

Your power brings healing and purpose, strength and a new perspective.

I come to you tonight to surrender to your good and perfect will for my life.

You are beyond the confines of time and above the restrictions of space.

Your plans are good and your storehouses are full.

Everything I need is in your hands.

Form my perspective, Lord, and show me how to live your way.

In Matthew chapter 11 verses 25 to 30, Jesus says, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven

and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed

them to little children.

Yes, Father, for this is what you are pleased to do.

All things have been committed to me by my Father.

No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son,

and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you

will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

In the scene, Jesus teaching the crowds, and you are there, propped against a wall because

your legs are tired, straining to hear over the heads of the crowd.

Jesus, the compelling teacher, lifts a child as an example to everyone of the kind of trust

and wholehearted belief that God desires.

You feel relieved that surely what he is about to say will be accessible to you.

If children can understand, then you are going to find this easy.

Jesus speaks about being weary and burdened, he is speaking straight to your soul.

Rest is all you need, long lasting and deeply satisfying rest.

But now he speaks about yokes pointing to the field nearby, to oxen pulling plows, straining

with the wooden contraption over their shoulders.

Yokes, did you hear him correctly?

Jesus isn't calling people to stop and do nothing.

He is calling you to a new kind of work, one that brings its own refreshment.

If you are yoked with Christ, you work together with him, doing his work in his strength.

This work brings satisfaction and fulfillment, it is purposeful and life giving.

The plowed field behind you brings glory to God.

If you feel too tired, too old, too young, then remember that Christ takes the responsibility.

This will bring rest not just to your body, but to your very soul.

As we turn to prayer, allow every part of your body to relax, starting at your feet and

working your way up.

Place at God's feet, the old, heavy, splintered yoke that has brought you pain and trust

him with tomorrow the next unplowed field.

His yoke is easy and his burden is light.

As we come to pray, let's repeat the words the prophet Jeremiah shares about God with

his people in Jeremiah chapter 31, verse 25, I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.

Breathe deeply following this pattern of long, slow exhales.

As you breathe in, pray, refresh the weary and as you breathe out, pray, satisfy the faint.

Breathe in, refresh the weary, breathe out, satisfy the faint.

Breathe in, refresh the weary, breathe out, satisfy the faint.

Breathe in, refresh the weary, breathe out, satisfy the faint.

Let's pray, Heavenly Father, thank you that when you bring refreshment, it is still

part of your plans and purposes.

You don't call me to do nothing but to find fulfillment and joy in walking with you.

Lloyd, I bring to you all that burdens me.

My friends and family, my work or my loneliness, my health and my daily tasks and I ask you

to bring refreshment in the every day.

May I see your footsteps alongside mine and know you lifting the weight of responsibility.

May I sense your pool in a certain direction and trust in your plans to bring hope, healing,

peace and love in every situation.

Thank you, Lloyd, that your spirit refreshes me from within, reminding me of your words

and teachings, lifting my head to see your beauty in creation.

Thank you for the people in my life that bring refreshment to, sometimes physically

through their hospitality and sometimes through an encouraging word or even just a smile.

As I rest tonight, fill my mind with refreshing thoughts, help me to reflect on your character

and be thankful for the many ways you have blessed me.

As my muscles relax, may I find rest in communion with your spirit.

The psalmist says in Psalm chapter 62 verses 1 to 2, truly my soul finds rest in God.

My salvation comes from him, truly he is my rock and my salvation.

He is my fortress, I shall never be shaken.

Let's close with a final prayer.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence with me this evening.

Thank you for your understanding of the limited human capacity and your offer to refresh me.

Lloyd, I commit tomorrow to you.

May I know your direction and strength.

May I see your hand at work and feel the refreshing presence of your spirit in my everyday responsibilities.

May I bring glory to you as I trust you and walk in step with you.

Amen.

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Amen.