Is your life too busy? Do you seem to spend most of your time trying to catch up with yourself? Does "serving God" seem to be a task that requires more strength than you can find? That could be a problem – if we try to "serve God" in our own strength we are sure to "burn out" and become discouraged – BUT there is a solution …

Jesus said, "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" (Matthew 11:28-30).

The Lord encourages us to rest awhile so He can restore us. We need to be careful not to let our lives become so busy that we are unable to find the time to draw aside and drink from the wonderful Living water, Jesus – allowing Him to refresh us. If we become "dried out" or "parched" we are of little use and unable to distribute the joy and abundance that the Holy Spirit fills us with, into the lives of those around us.

As we read in Psalm 23: "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul . . . " Water speaks of life, sustenance, fertility, blessing and refreshing – what a wonderful place to be restored! "Therefore with joy will you draw water" (Isaiah 12:3). It is a joyful experience to be refreshed and refilled with the Living water. We all need to be soaked again and again in the wonderful Holy Spirit, so our passion and longing for more of Jesus can be satisfied.

When we draw aside and allow Jesus to restore and refresh us, then God is able to use us to fulfil His promise that we will perform miracles and bring hope to a dying world, as it says in Isaiah 32:2-3: "Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen."

Isaiah 55:1-2 speaks of readily available, free abundant life: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."

What a wonderful promise is in Isaiah 58:11- "The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

God always fulfils His promises – we don’t have to strive. Jeremiah 17:7-8: "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

BE ENCOURAGED as you continue to serve our wonderful God and

· Take time to be refreshed
· Spend time beside the still waters
· Let your soul be restored
· Allow God’s peace to come into your life.

THEN you will minister out of JOY and LOVE and a desire to serve your brothers and sisters, showing them the way to a powerful and fulfilling life in the Holy Spirit.

Bible  Readings:  Exodus 34:21; Psalm 91:1; Psalm 11:2; Psalm 42:1; John 4:14; Psalm 51:12; Acts 2:28; Jude 1:24-25 (in that sequence). 

Please Pray This Prayer:

"Dear Wonderful, Loving and Living God, Who cares and watches over us constantly. Thank You for Your wonderful promises of refreshing You give us when we grow weary. I accept Your refreshing and restoration today and ask You to help me to receive Your gift of wisdom so I will know when to stop and take time to be with You beside those still waters, so I can be restored and refreshed by You. My only desire is to serve You and distribute Your joy and living water to those around me who are desperate for Your life-giving water. Use me today to be a blessing to all those I meet. In Jesus' name, Amen."  - Pam Hooker

The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry,  New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.