Ponder This: In what ways is God restoring my soul spiritually, emotionally and physically?
Scripture To Consider: He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. -Psalm 23:2
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Tom's Response:
I came across a video recently that showed a sheep stuck on its back, its legs pointing skyward. When a sheep is cast like this they can die in just a few hours. The shepherd wakes up multiple times throughout the night or stays awake all night to make sure this does not happen. The shepherd is constantly counting his sheep to make sure none have wandered off. I have a new respect for the sleep-deprived shepherd. Not only do they find the sheep good pastures, drinking water, and protection from predators, but they also pull all-nighters. They genuinely love their sheep.
Luke 15:3-7 shows us how important even one sheep can be. 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
In the Old Testament, God is identified as the Shepherd of Israel (Psalm 80:1), the Shepherd who feeds his flock (Isaiah 40:11), and the Shepherd who seeks out his sheep (Ezekiel 34:12). In the New Testament, Jesus referring to himself as "the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14) and "the great shepherd of the sheep" (Hebrews 13:20). God (the Shepherd) brings us back, refreshes and turns our wandering souls back to its original state. He renews our mental, emotional, and spiritual wholeness because He loves us.
Karen's Response:
I am so thankful that God is in the restoration business and that He is continuously restoring me from the inside out. This comes in many forms throughout my week.
As Psalm 23 suggests, I also find that my soul is refreshed in the quiet moments with God. When I eliminate all distractions and come into His presence, ready to be held, ready to hear His voice. This can be at home in a favorite chair, but I do find that being in nature, God’s creation, can be even more impactful.
Another way God continuously refreshes my soul is through my small group. Our Father works to transform us through our relationships, so digging deep into scripture with faithful followers of Christ has become a must in my week. Praising the Lord in song, pondering spiritual truths, encouraging one another, holding each other accountable, and praying together is the recipe for my spiritual and emotional renewal. Even when the schedule gets busy, I am reminded of the importance of making my small group time a priority by scripture. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Proverbs 27:17 tells us we become wiser and stronger together. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” And Hebrews 10:24-25 shares, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The physical restoration that God has blessed me with recently is a little unexpected. Due to a back injury (and just getting older), I was encouraged to try pilates. In Pilates, every exercise begins with a focus on a strong core and intentional breath. The inner strength and intentionality are much more important than how much, how many, or how high. Through this slow, calm, physical practice, I also feel a spiritual renewal, as I have been reminded that I have the strength and power of Christ within me and, through Him, I can do and handle all things. (Philippians 4:13)
Using the words Paul wrote to the Ephesians, this is my prayer for you and for me. Let’s welcome God into our hearts so that He can restore our souls and then use us to go out and love others well.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19
