Refresh Yourself

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. . . . So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” (1 Kings 19:5-8)
     Passage: Psalm 46:1-10 

         After all that Elijah had done and experienced, he was tired physically, emotionally and spiritually. The first thing he did after expressing his frustration and feeling like he wanted to quit on life, was to fall asleep. His body needed rest. Then, when an angel of the Lord woke him up, God had provided food for him to eat. His body needed nourishment. Both of those were part of getting refreshed physically. The broom tree is significant, because it is a tree that is symbolic of restoration to the Israelites since it is able to grow and thrive in desert places. It points out that God refreshed Elijah emotionally. Finally, going to Mt. Horeb (also Mt. Sinai), was a place God had Elijah go to be refreshed spiritually.
        Refreshing yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually is a vital part of both warding off depression and in dealing with depression. You need time to get enough sleep, along with eating a healthy diet and getting exercise. You need some time to recharge emotionally, especially after periods of high stress. You need to spend time alone with God and also be consistent to worship with God’s people. All these are part of refreshing yourself to be the best you can be for the Lord.

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)