Refreshed...

You would think that because I'm in the ministry that certain things would be a given...  It would automatically be assumed that I spend hours and hours in prayer, Bible reading - a devotional time that would make the apostle Paul blush in embarrassment (he might write numerous Bible books, but I've got the devotional life market cornered!!).  But that's simply not the case...

20 years into this and I'm still trying to figure things out; things I should be able to do out of habit...  The problem is that you can't give to others what you haven't quite latched onto for yourself.  The outflow of ministry must begin with the inflow of God's refreshment.  And the Bible clarifies that comes from repentance - a change in who we are, which allows God to really do thru us what He intends to do.

The problem?  For me - I tend to fight and resist...  And I wonder why I never find what God wants me to discover...

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" - Acts 3:19

This past summer I attended the North American Christian Convention with my family.  The verse noted above was a key passage, which developed the theme "REFRESHED."  I'll admit I went to this conference anything but refreshed..  And I came home from it, still in a fog, still stressed, still fighting, still searching...

So there's a challenge I must discipline myself to take upon my heart: find God's best for me...and that will come by doing two simple things - things that I find very difficult: consistent Bible reading & a sustained prayer life.

That's my challenge...  And just maybe that's your challenge too...

Don't be afraid to admit this...  You'll never find refreshment until you come clean (repent), find forgiveness (sins wiped out), and walk in grace (times of refreshing)...

Mike