You Don’t Walk Alone
Walking is a spiritual practice that I love. I don’t take my air pods and I tuck my phone away in my fanny pack. It’s a time for my mind to process, to unwind, and to talk things over with God. As much as I love my long walks, I haven’t carved out much space for them in this full season.
Saturday, I woke up craving a walk. By the time I made everyone a late breakfast, cleaned up, and headed out the door it was nearing lunch. The sun was high in the sky and although there were some clouds to offer respite, it was already hot. Still, I was longing for this walk.
For the first hour my mind spun, a sure sign this quiet time to reflect was way past due. But somewhere near the halfway point, my mind cleared and I settled in to the sound of my shoes on the asphalt, the rhythm of my breath, and the warmth of the sun on my skin.
My focus shifted from the thoughts in my mind. I became aware of myself and aware of the beauty of God’s creation around me. I began noticing the shape of the clouds and smelling the sweet scent of the flowers in a yard I was passing. I began to move from wrestling through my thoughts to conversing with God.
About an hour an hour into my walk, the clouds had dissipated and the sun had become relentless. Sweat ran down my back and I was beginning to feel fatigued. As I turned up a big hill, I began to think of the distance still left on my route before I’d be back home and in the air conditioner.
My apple watch alerted me that I had completed another mile but that my pace had slowed. I paused for a moment to take a long swig of water from my bottle as I crested the hill and considered shortening my route back home. I could take the short cut and bypass some of the distance as well as some of the hillier parts of my return route.
I thought about how often we get weary, overwhelmed by the conditions that we’re in, and fatigued from the journey we’re on. I thought about how tempting it is sometimes to take a short cut to avoid the difficulties we sometimes face.
I offered up a simple prayer. “Lord, refresh me.”
A breeze stirred the leaves and rippled the grass in the field to my right. I felt the breeze blow across my skin and offer relief from the heat. The breeze cooled me and offered relief from the heat. It was the refreshment I needed to reconsider my short cut.
In that moment I thought about ruach, the Hebrew word for spirit in the Old testament, which is often translated wind, breath, and spirit. In the New Testament Greek it is pneuma which is translated in the same way as breath, wind, and spirit.
We get weary. We get overwhelmed and fatigued. Sometimes, in those situations we look for an easy way out. However, as followers of Jesus, we have the gift of God’s Spirit to refresh us, to offer us relief, and to give us the strength and power to push on.
This analogy is true for so much more than just a walk. In the fulness of our busy lives, in the difficult situations and circumstances we face, in our struggles, and when we aren’t sure we can keep on pushing on; we have a power greater than our own to draw from.
Ephesians 1:16-21 NLT “I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.”
Lean in, friend. Depend on the power of God extended to you through the work of Jesus and the gift of the Spirit. Living as a child of God in the kingdom of God means you don’t journey alone. Ask God to refresh you through the power of his Spirit alive and active in you. You’ve got all the strength and power you need in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
God, Thank you that you journey with us. You restore and refresh us through the power of your Spirit. Help us to turn to you when we’re weary to receive the help we need. Be our strength. Be our comfort. Revive us when we’re weary. Give us the power to finish strong.
Amen.
Scripture Meditation
Ephesians 1:16-21 NLT “I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.”
Journal Reflection
In what areas do you feel weary? How can you turn to God in that weariness? How might God’s Spirit be offering to refresh you?
Practice
Take a minute a stand outside. Allow the sun to fall on your skin or feel the breeze blow through your hair. Meditate on the nearness of God. He is nearer that the heat on your skin or the wind in your hair. He is in you and all around you. Contemplate that for a moment or two.
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