Hello, and welcome to the READ-PRAY-SING Blog. I am so glad you have joined me in this discussion of refreshing your spirit and renewing your mind.
In This Blog Post:
The change of seasons is usually such a joyous time for me, but this spring, I found myself bogged down with so much responsibility and unfinished tasks that it almost robbed me of inner peace and happiness.
I say ALMOST, because I was somewhat saved from the trenches of gloom and doom by one trip to the thrift store!
My Thrift Store Haul
My inner drive for a good thrifting hunt landed me at a Goodwill in Erie, PA where I was bound and determined to put a dressy church outfit together, and find treasures to post for resale in my Poshmark and eBay stores.
Since I have a tendency to take a VERY long time at thrift stores, I gave myself only 1 hour to look through the whole thrift store, and my steadfastness was rewarded with a cart full of wonderful treasures!
The find-of-the-day was a NEW navy-blue floral dress with tags –and it was 50% off! What a steal. Then I coupled it with a beige suit jacket, tweed peep-toe heels, and a blue and white striped purse --all thrifted at the Goodwill.
After 1 hour, my thrift store finds came to $80, and I walked away with 2 pairs of heels, 1 pair of flats, 2 NEW purses, 2 picture frames, a NEW dress, a suit jacket, 2 sconce globes, a large vase, a flower pot, 2 Bibles, 2 Santa coffee cups, and a few other misc. items.
I couldn’t believe my good fortune. Just one brand-new dress would’ve cost me $80 at Macy's, and here I was with a cart full of 2nd hand items for $80 and I was the happiest girl ever.
Time to Cleanse and Renew
My thrift store shopping spree gave me a quick pick-me-up, but my inner spirit was still down in the dumps, and I was still feeling very much discouraged. What was wrong with me?
As I washed, wiped, and cleaned all of my thrifted treasures, it dawned on me that I was giving these castaway items new life, and this is exactly what I needed to do: give my spirit new life.
We live our daily lives and seldom realize that we are collecting spiritual dirt and debris from the things we hear, think, and see, that weigh us down, depress us, or plants seeds of unbelief in our heart.
The blessing of being alive brings along the need to not only cleanse our bodies, but also cleanse our minds from wrong thoughts so our spirit can be renewed in the Lord.
While I pondered this concept for a few days, I kept coming across the word, “REFRESH" while doing online searches, and I felt the Lord stir me with a desire to "refresh my spirit."
To refresh your spirit, means to give new strength and energy by rest, food, and meditation. To make you feel fresh again, and to cheer you up. It is also the act of changing something to make it look newer and better.
And the thought of renewal means to put off the old self, to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and put on the new self.
So, I searched the Bible for verses on these topics and I've shared a few meaningful ones below.
Scripture Verses on Refreshing Your Spirit
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
1 John 3:3
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Psalm 23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Jeremiah 31:25
“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”
1 Samuel 16:23
And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.
Why You Should Refresh Your Spirit
This need to "refresh one's spirit" is something all Christians should do, because it can "reset" our emotions, desires, and perspectives.
The world has a way of pulling us into itself, and before you know it, we've cast off all heavenly vision for temporal things, and when someone loses their vision, the Bible says, "we perish" or die inside.
This blog post is dedicated to inspire you to "refresh your spirit" and "renew your mind," so your focus is on the Lord and not on your circumstances. We do not want to be swept away with depression, anxiety, or fear, but fulfill all the Lord has purposed for us.
5 Ways to Refresh Your Spirit and Renew Your Mind
1. Feed upon the Word of God for daily cleansing.
"To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word," (Ephesians 5:26 NIV)
As you read, study, and confess the Word of God, you are not only receiving spiritual strength, but you are protecting yourself against transforming to the world by the renewing of your mind.
The Word of God cleanses you like the washing of water. Things in your minds, things that deal with your conduct, and things that have to do with your character and attitude --are all cleansed by the washing of water through the Word of God.
"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil" (Isaiah 1:16 ESV).
2. Devote time to personal prayer and repentance.
Refresh yourself with the peace of God as you let your requests be known to Him through prayer and thanksgiving.
Don't wait until troubles come upon you before you turn to God in prayer. God's Word tells us to go to him early and often.
The less we pray, the more anxious we become.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).
As you pray, be mindful to reveal any hidden sin and repent of wrong behavior, and ask the Lord to wash away all iniquity.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 KJV).
3. Live a Life of Worship and Praise.
The Bible says God inhabits the praises of His people. When you magnify God through singing of His wondrous works, you are inviting Him into your life. This action alone will refresh your spirit and cause you to focus more on Him.
Worshipping God will deliver you from worry as well. Play worship music or listen to a message online while working, and recharge your spirit with praise and thanksgiving.
As you praise and give thanks with a worshipful heart, the Lord will supernaturally renew your spirit with joy and strength.
"The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV).
4 Faithfully attend church services and meetings.
If you are hungry for the ways of God, you will find spiritual refreshment among like-believers in the house of God. Not only that, but God promises to bless those that gather in His name.
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the mist of them" (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV).
Your spirit will be encouraged with God's presence and from others who are following God. You will not only receive encouragement from these meetings, but you can be one to give encouragement as well.
"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near" (Hebrews 10:25 NJKV).
5. Rest from your work.
Overworking yourself without rest will drain you spiritually. The Bible tells us that God rested on the seventh day --After he worked on creation for six days. This gives us an example to follow.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God" (Exodus 20:8 KJV).
This is the 4th Commandment given to Moses. God was telling His people that they were to keep this day, the Sabbath, as holy unto Him.
Discipline yourself to pull away from busy activities so you can recharge your spiritual battery on the seventh day. Your spirit needs nourishment and growth. Be deliberate about setting the Sabbath day aside to rest from your work.
“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 58:13-14 NKJV).
A List of Definitions for Refreshing Your Spirit
Refresh Your Spirit: To give new strength or energy to; reinvigorate.
To provide new vigor by rest, food, and meditation.
To refresh one's memory with God's promises.
To make fresh again.
To cheer up.
The act of changing something to look newer and better.
Renew Your Spirit: To make like new; restore to freshness, or perfection.
To give a new appearance.
To change into something different.
To be remade into something better.
To be filled with God's spirit.
To put off your old self, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on your new self.
Rejuvenate Your Spirit: To restore youthful appearance; revitalize.
To make young again with renewed hope.
To make alive with resurrection life and power.
The outcome, when yielding to the Holy Spirit who dwells in you.
The outcome, when allowing the Shepherd to lead you to a place of rest.
This happens when you take time to connect with God through prayer and meditation.
Renovate Your Spirit: To renew by cleansing, repairing, or rebuilding.
The process of being re-created by the love and presence of God.
The act of improving your thought process, so you don't think the same way.
To modify and enhance the aesthetic appearance of your countenance.
To breathe new life into your being through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
To rebuild your spiritual foundation so that it is in good condition.
Recharge Your Spirit: To return to an original state after depletion or loss.
To become charged again; to refill with power.
To be closely connected to God.
To have a constant need for daily renewal and recharging.
To decrease anxiety and fatigue while meditating on Scripture.
To wait on the Lord.
Bible Verses on Renewing Your Mind
Ephesians 4:23
And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Isaiah 40:31
Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Let's Pray Together
Heavenly Father,
We come to You now, and ask You to seal the words of this discussion in our hearts. May we find our fullness in You, our Good Shepherd, and Savior of our souls.
Lead us in the paths of righteousness and deliver us from evil.
Cleanse us from evil works that dirty our spirit and separate us from You.
Refresh us with Your presence as we wait upon You, so we may do that which is good and acceptable in Your eyes.
Renew a right spirit within us so we can be remade into something beautiful and useful.
We thank you for Your Holy Word that cleanses our soul, may we hide it in our heart so we might not sin against Thee.
In Your Precious Name,
Amen
Many Blessings ~
Angie
The Founder of
My Sun & Shade Ministries
