Scripture for Renewal: How to Overcome Spiritual Slumps
I want my heart and my flesh to yearn for God, but there are plenty of mornings when I open my Bible with waning enthusiasm. These are the days when I need to soak in Scripture for renewal, letting God’s Word revive me.
Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses for renewal and replenishment. I’ll also share several ways to overcome a spiritual slump.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook for spiritual replenishment.
Scripture for Renewal
Let’s begin by turning to God’s Word.
Scripture for Renewal: 15 Verses
1. Proverbs 11:25 ESV
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
This Proverb gently reminds us that those who refresh others will be refreshed in the process. It is truly more blessed to give than to receive. When we take the time to pour into others, God provides for our needs and replenishes us.
2. Psalm 23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Are you facing an uncertain situation?
God wants to lead you to a peaceful place in which you trust in him fully. He wants to help you as you fight this battle. What would it look like to create space to rest in his love today?
You will be renewed when you learn to find rest in your Shepherd’s arms.
3. Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
Repentance is the act of turning away from sinful behaviors and turning toward God instead. It is more than feeling sorry or regretting our poor decisions.
Is God calling you to repentance in any areas today?
In doing so, you will find your heart refreshed.
4. Psalm 34:6-8
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
God is our refuge and a shelter from the storms of life. His angels surround you, and he invites you to find deep rest in him.
The next time you feel shaken by a storm in life, imagine yourself resting in the shelter of God’s wings. Imagine him wrapping his protective arms around you and declaring that nothing will reach you without passing through him first.
5. Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Jesus offers this invitation to all of his followers. He invites us to draw near to him and find true rest in his presence.
For me, this often looks like taking a long walk outside. My cares fall away, and I talk to the Lord. I almost always return home feeling lighter, replenished.
What would it look like for you to draw near to Jesus and find rest today?
You might work in your garden, take a slow stroll outside, draw a hot bath and light a candle, or curl up with a good book. We all need these restful spaces to recharge.
6. Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
God protects you and surrounds you. When life batters you, run to him. Ask him to help you trust him. Worship him with a grateful heart. He wants to carry you.
7. Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
This promise can carry us through the darkest, most wearisome times.
When life is difficult, God is with you. He wants to carry you and sustain you.
8. Psalm 5:3
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
Beginning our days with God is the best way to start the day.
Before you climb from bed, make it a habit to greet God. Thank him for a blessing. Tell him good morning. Repeat the words of this Psalm or another favorite verse.
9. Psalm 119:11
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
When we memorize God’s Word, he uses it to renew our minds. We literally see the world differently!
Always be working to memorize Scripture. This is one of the most vital habits you can cultivate.
10. Ephesians 4:22-24
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
We all face the daily temptation to submit to the desires of our flesh. The flesh refers to the part of us that is not submitted to Christ’s lordship.
Every morning, begin by committing to walking in the Spirit. Ask God to help you stay in step with the Spirit instead of walking in the flesh.
11. 2 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This helpful passage teaches us the characteristics we should cultivate.
Begin your days by praying for these virtues to reign in your life.
12. 1 Corinthians 6:12
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
We all face times when it feels like we are being dominated by things of this world: money, sex, food, and other pleasures of the flesh.
We establish healthy habits when we commit to embracing only what is helpful.
More Scripture for Renewal
13. 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
At times, we fall into sinful habits because we tell ourselves, “I’ve already messed up. I might as well continue.”
Instead of indulging in sinful behaviors after moments of failure, we find freedom when we confess our sins and ask God for the power to rise above temptation.
Make confession a daily habit, and God will use this discipline to transform your heart and life.
13. Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
We rise above sinful habits as we allow God to renew our minds.
God’s primary tool for renewing our minds is his written Word. Speak the verses I am sharing with you today. Memorize them. Stand on them when you feel weak. In the process, God will renew your mind.
14. James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Satan tempts us to sin because he comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
Sinful behaviors are enticing, but they always cause destruction in our lives. Remind yourself that when you resist temptation, Satan will eventually flee.
15. 1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Lastly, aim to do everything for God’s glory.
He is always with you. Ask him to help you live in a way that honors him.
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Let’s now look at several ways to apply this Scripture for renewal to our lives.
Applications of This Scripture for Renewal
A wise mentor once compared daily Bible reading to a daily bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. Most days, nothing unexpected happens when you eat the meal; nonetheless, it continues to nourish and sustain you day after day.
While I agree with this comparison, there are seasons when I’m desperate to fuel the fire for personal Bible study. I’ve found several key ingredients to fan the flame:
1. Get out of a spiritual slump by spending time with passionate people.
Have you ever noticed that if the people in your house are intent on snacking all evening long, it’s far more difficult to practice self-control than it is to join them on a chip-munching binge?
In the same way, spending time with people who are hungry to draw nearer to God ignites the same passion in me. There are a handful of friends in my life who talk about their Bible reading as if they’ve just had a very direct and personal conversation with God. They speak of obscure Old Testament passages as if they have directly heard the voice of God thundering from heaven.
These friends inspire me to open my Bible with an expectation to encounter God in the reading every day. Hunger for God is contagious.
2. Live outside your comfort zone.
The correlation between my zeal for Bible study and my passion for living out the gospel in my everyday life cannot be denied.
In seasons when I’m deliberately following God out of my comfort zone, I always find myself more attentive to his voice in my everyday moments and more desperate for his truth as I open his written Word.
This doesn’t mean I have to plan an overseas missions trip every two months. It simply means I regularly ask God where I can follow him in sharing the gospel – whether by word or by deed – and I step out of the safety of my comfortable space to follow him.
3. Renew your mind with God’s Word.
As I’ve shared in the past, our family memorizes one verse together every week (or two, or three, or four weeks!). We write it on a piece of paper and hang it on the fridge. Every morning, we practice reading and speaking the verse together. This practice renews our minds and shapes our hearts.
Often, I overhear the kids speaking our verses when they face challenging or upsetting circumstances.
God’s Word renews our minds.
Hiding it in my heart helps me keep my thoughts focused on him, provides comfort in difficult moments, and serves as an offensive weapon when the enemy attacks my mind.
4. Regularly ask God to search your heart and show you if you have unconfessed sin your life.
If he reveals something to you, confess your sin to him, repent (ask God to help you turn away from your sin and turn toward him), and receive his forgiveness.
5. Remember how to reconnect with God by helping and loving others.
We can also connect with God by asking him to show us the needs surrounding us and stepping up to meet those needs.
Stop to chat with a lonely neighbor, write a note to your child’s teacher, or leave a gift in the mailbox for the mail carrier. Cook your husband’s favorite meal. Pick up trash on the side of the road.
As we serve others, God fills our hearts with his love and joy.
6. Reconnect with God in nature.
Since childhood, I’ve connected with God most easily and naturally in his created world.
God’s created world reveals his glory and magnifies the work of his hands.
Watch the sunset. Take a slow walk through the woods. Hang a bird feeder outside the window. Visit a local park.
Use this time to slow down, sort through your thoughts, and talk to God.
7. Seek his face.
Here are some of my favorite ways to draw near to God:
I go to my bedroom, close the door, light a candle, and talk to him as I would talk to a friend;
I listen to worship music and imagine him holding me;
I meet with a close friend to pray together;
I open my Bible to the book of Psalms and read slowly, soaking in the words;
I take a slow walk in nature and talk to God;
I write God a letter or pour my heart out in my journal.
If this Scripture for renewal was helpful and encouraging, I invite you to explore our devotionals and library of free devotional eBooks below.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God
If this Scripture for renewal blessed you, explore my free books. God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here! 
