Psalm 63:1 says,

When is the last time you felt like dry, parched land, desperately in need of something substantial?

When is the last time you despaired life itself like Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9?

We all get weary from the stuff of life.



What does it take to get from the desert of weariness to streams of living water?

The Holy Spirit renews us in a variety of ways, here are a few to keep in mind:

BIBLE STUDY. Pick a section of scripture. Study it. Re-read it.

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. John 7:37-39a

BAPTISM. Consider your own personal baptism daily.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

WORSHIP. With renewed love and thankfulness worship your Lord and Savior in whatever way the passage leads you to worship - in church or everyday life!

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

REPENTENCE. Repent of the ways you have broken God’s Word or forgotten or failed to live up to it.

And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:15-16

PRAYER. Sometimes we simply don’t have the words.

…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

Take for example Luke 5:1-10.

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

Oh, how often I find myself cleaning the net in disappointment!



I’m cleaning the messes around the house the kids have failed to pick up themselves.



I’m trying to smooth the fights between two people who are both being unreasonable.



I’m not in the mood to be gracious with the inconsiderate driver or the person who blatantly budges in line at the store.



As I reread this account in Luke again I remember God is bigger than my disappointments.



That will guide me as I continue to pray about the particulars of life. And as I pray, God takes the broken pieces of weariness and weaves them into His master plan and makes me whole again.

Lord, help me to be gracious. Bless my efforts as a peacemaker. Thank you for my family. Motivate them to be responsible and me to be a servant. Don’t let disappointment overwhelm and paralyze me.

Holy Spirit work obedience in me; the same obedience Peter had when he obeyed even when it didn’t make sense. Help me to submit to the authority you have put over me. Keep me from grumbling over things I don’t understand.

And give me, Jesus, a humble heart that falls at your feet, aware of my sin and Your holiness. Use me, Lord in whatever ways you will to Your glory. Thank you for calling me to be part of Your family. Do not let me lose my fervor for service, and lead me to love Your people more.

Amen.