How do you recharge yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually? That’s a trick question by the way. Real renewal is not self-induced. When we are physically exhausted, emotionally drained and/or spiritually depleted we must turn to a Source beyond ourselves:
"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Some see waiting as passive, as sitting still; others see it as hope and confidence held within while maintaining the same pace. There is at least one other meaning: when you go to a restaurant someone waits on you. They determine your preferences and needs, they take your order, check in periodically to make sure everything is being done to your satisfaction. That puts things in a new light. Those who wait upon the Lord will find their strength renewed.
Much of the time our fatigue comes from serving ourselves, being emotionally consumed with our own “stuff”. Often the greatest refreshment of spirit comes in serving someone other than yourself—although those in service industries know how exhausting serving others can be. Our strength is renewed not just in serving God but in giving Him praise. We are told that God inhabits (dwells, lives, resides in) the praises of His people. Now there’s a thought: when I begin to praise God He resides with me in a unique way.
The Songwriter in the Bible even implored the heavenly beings to praise God:
Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. 21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. 22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul. (Psalms 103:20-22)
It applies not just those angelic beings that do God’s bidding and obey His word; nor the heavenly beings alone who do His will; but the earthly being who do those things as well. He resides with us and renews our strength when we are in the acts of praising and serving Him.
~ Father, today I make myself available to be your waiter, to be your servant, to obediently do your bidding and obey your word. Reveal Your desires, for I am here to serve You. Amen.
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