7 Refreshing Bible Verses (and 11 Ways to Be Refreshed)
Yesterday morning, I awoke with a deep desire to go to the woods—to inhale the scent of the creek bottom, decomposing maple leaves, and pungent earth. As I sat with my Bible, I was reminded that God wanted to renew my mind with his written Word, and I let the following refreshing Bible verses wash over me.
7 Refreshing Bible Verses
Do you long for the refreshment that comes from God alone?
I invite you to soak in these words today as well.
Refreshing Bible Verses for the Worn and Weary
1. Psalm 97:11-12 (NIV)
“Light shines on the righteous, gladness on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones, and praise His holy name.”
These words remind us that when we rejoice in the Lord, his presence refreshes us.
After you read this verse, take a moment to close your eyes and imagine God’s light shining upon you and filling you. Let the warmth of his love wash over you and refresh you.
2. Psalm 68:9
“You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.”
Just as God’s rain showers water the earth, he wants to refresh and renew our minds and bodies.
When you are weary, turn to the Lord and ask him to fill you with a fresh outpouring of his Living Water.
He will answer your prayer.
3. Job 23:12
“I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”
Do you feel depleted today? Open God’s Word and let it renew your mind as you read.
Just as bread nourishes the body, God’s Word nourishes our spirits.
If you’re not sure where to turn, Psalms are a good place to start. The following are some of my favorites: Psalms 63, 62, 97, and 23.
4. 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 behavior and turning toward God.
When we turn away from sin and return to the Lord, he refreshes our hearts. Ask God to search your heart and show you if you need to turn away from any ungodly attitudes or behaviors. If he brings something to mind, ask for his forgiveness and commit to turning away from the behavior and turning toward him.
5. Jeremiah 31:25
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
God wants to refresh us when we are weary and faint. He invites us to turn to him and receive this refreshment.
I like to imagine streams of living water washing over me as he refreshes my soul.
6. Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
In his letter to the Galatian church, the Apostle Paul reminded God’s people that refreshment is found through loving and serving others.
Proverbs 11:25 tells us that those who refresh others will be refreshed themselves. Ask God to show you one way to reach out and love or encourage someone else today. In the process, his refreshment will wash over you.
7. Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Jesus reminds us that when we turn to him and let him carry our burdens, we find rest for our souls.
I like to imagine Jesus holding me in his arms as I lie in bed at night. I imagine him lifting my heaviest burdens as I drift into deep rest.
Apply These Refreshing Bible Verses to Your Life:
Let’s talk about practical ways to apply these refreshing Bible verses to our lives.
After soaking in these words for a while, I gathered our youngest child, and we headed to the woods.
The forest was saturated with a fresh outpouring from heaven when we arrived, and our feet padded soundlessly as we trekked down the winding path.
Unfurling like a chocolate-colored ribbon through a backdrop of ochre leaves, it invited us to move beyond the surface and explore the untamed.
Maybe this is why I love wild places. I love the lack of rules and expectations. The forest is a place to rest.
We all need places to rest, places where we’re free to be real. Your place might not be the forest on a damp spring morning, but I encourage you to go somewhere restorative and rest in God’s presence today.
Light the candle.
Close the door and wrap yourself in your grandma’s quilt—the one that feels like a cloak of comfort—and let the love wash over you.
Nestle yourself in the corner booth of your favorite diner or coffee shop with a steaming mug and watch the world pass by.
As you do, here are some ways to refresh your mind and refill your soul.
11 Practical Ways to Refresh Your Mind
1. Soak in gratitude.
Close your eyes and begin naming every blessing that comes to mind. Let these gifts parade through your mind, and give thanks for each one.
2. Bask beneath open skies.
Go to a window and watch the clouds pass overhead for 10 minutes. Time spent connecting with nature reduces sympathetic nerve activity and lowers cortisol. After all, the heavens declare the glory of God. Interacting with this glory always changes us.
3. Breathe deeply.
Go somewhere quiet, close your eyes, and spend several minutes breathing slowly: 3 seconds inhaling and 5 seconds exhaling for at least five cycles. When we exhale more slowly than we inhale, this calms the limbic system.
4. Get outside.
Take a short walk around the block or down the country road. If possible, walk somewhere with trees. Many trees omit aerosols that enhance cognitive and physiological functioning. The Japanese refer to this as a “forest bath.”
5. Hydrate your body.
Take a break from your work and drink a glass of water. This sounds simple, but it can boost your energy quickly.
6. Soak in a Psalm.
Read a Psalm slowly, and let the words replenish you.
7. Practice soft fascination.
Spend a few minutes admiring a tree, a houseplant, or any living being. This kind of soft fascination will reboot your brain.
8. Fuel your body.
Eat a crunchy apple or piece of fruit. Again, this is a simple but effective way to refresh your body.
9. Hum or sing.
Hum your favorite song. Humming stimulates the Vagus Nerve, telling your nervous system that all is well.
10. Listen to calming music or worship music.
Listen to calming music. Like humming, this calms the nervous system and quiets the mind.
11. Spend time with a pet.
If you are at home, spend a few minutes enjoying your pet. Resist the urge to simultaneously complete any additional tasks. Simply enjoy yourselves.
Does the idea of slipping away to recharge and refresh sound inviting? Space for Your Soul to Stretch is your invitation to create space to deeply connect with God. #refresh #seekGod Share on X
A Free Devotional Book to Help You Find Refreshment:
Does the idea of slipping away to recharge and refresh sound inviting? Space for Your Soul to Stretch is your invitation to create space to deeply connect with God. Each day invites you to encounter God’s created world and spend time in his written Word. You will walk away from this journey replenished and refreshed. It is yours right here.
These Two Books are Free on Kindle Unlimited as eBooks and Also Available in Print:
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 in eBook form for free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or for 12.99 in print right here. (You can sign up for a free three-month Kindle Unlimited trial if you are not a member.) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
Calling All Moms and Daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find this book in eBook form for free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or buy a print copy for 11.99 right here.
