Day 5: Dare to dream: Know how to recharge

Life is busy, active, and sometimes frantic, and as Christians, we are often (rightly) giving a lot out of ourselves. We also need to take time to be still and be filled up with God’s love again. Like so many things, it is about restoring the balance – having a healthy equilibrium between giving out and receiving.

Even Jesus, when he was on earth, needed time to get away and recharge with his heavenly Father. He encouraged his followers to do the same.

I personally recharge best in wide outdoor spaces, with time alone to reflect and be with God in nature, reading my Bible and praying. That’s why I’ve chosen these beautiful Psalms, which praise the beauty of God’spresence in Creation. Getting away from it all, into the wild places, has become a key element in my spiritual health. Every year or two, I go on a retreat somewhere in the countryside, on my own, to really recharge. At other times, just having a bunch of flowers in the house or going for a weekend walk can refresh and rejuvenate my soul.

We are all different. Some people recharge by talking with a particular person, by doing physical activity, by reading, or by going to a guided retreat, conference, or event. My co-author, Jude Simpson, recharges best in places where there are lots of people and bustle – which seems extraordinary to me!! We need to understand how we best receive the grace of God so that we can continue going and sharing that grace with others.

Reflect: Do you have a healthy balance between giving out and re-fuelling? Think about how you stay connected to God and how you get spiritually refreshed. Maybe make a note of how you best recharge so that you can hold yourself to account for making sure you do so. Include small daily or weekly habits, plus things you might want to do once or twice a year.

Prayer: Lord, I am nothing without you. My greatest desire is to be in your presence, receiving your love. My second-greatest desire is to be able to go and share that love with others. Give me the confidence to know myself and the discipline to take the time to let you refuel me; however, that needs to be done.

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