(Summer)times of Refreshment

Summer can be a great way to reset. It is a wonderful time to be outside, to break from normal routine and to enjoy God’s creation. When our children were little, summer always flew by and no matter our intention, summer was busier than we had imagined it would be! Our prayer is that you have had some times of rest and refreshment this summer! 

Our encouragement to you this month is that true refreshment comes from the presence of the Lord: from simply resting in His goodness and His mercy. Psalm 100 is a wonderful way to meditate on the Lord’s character and worship Him. It’s an amazing way to reset.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2  Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God.

    It is he who made us, and we are his;

    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

This is a Psalm of gratitude pointing us to who God is and calling on all of the earth to express loud joy and to worship God. Worship is something we do. It’s a surrendering of our lives and our wills, including our time and talent and affections, to God. It’s a whole life response to the goodness and promises of God. We choose to serve God as Lord and Master of our lives. This is not forced worship; this worship flows out of joy and gladness. It’s voluntary. Psalm 100:2 invites us to “come before him.” This is an invitation to come to God with joy and singing. When we come before God and remember who God is and the abundant grace available to us through Jesus, we worship and are refreshed in His Presence.

Our prayer is that in your important work as a mother, you hear the voice of your loving heavenly Father calling you to come, rest, find refreshment and reset.