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 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
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 and walk in the light, his presence refreshes us.
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 lives. 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.”
Just as bread nourishes the body, God’s Word nourishes our spirits. Do you feel depleted today? Open God’s Word and soak in his truth. 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.
5. Jeremiah 31:25
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
The Lord wants to refresh us when we are weary and faint. He invites us to turn to him and receive this refreshment.
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.
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.
Let’s talk about practical ways to apply these refreshing Bible verses to our lives.
Apply These Refreshing Bible Verses to Your Life:
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 and umber, 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 a sleeping forest on a damp spring morning, but today, I encourage you to go to your restful place.
Light the candle.
Close the door and wrap yourself in 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. Close your eyes and begin naming every gift in your life. Let these gifts parade through your mind, and give thanks for each one.
2. 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.
3. 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. 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.
5. Take a break from your work and drink a glass of water.
6. Read a Psalm slowly, and let the words wash over you.
7. Spend a few minutes admiring a tree, a houseplant, or any living being. This kind of soft fascination will reboot your brain.
8. Eat a crunchy apple or piece of fruit.
9. Hum your favorite song. Humming stimulates the Vagus Nerve, telling your nervous system that all is well.
10. Listen to calming music. Again, this quiets the mind.
11. If you are at home, spend a few minutes enjoying your pet. Resist the urge to simultaneously complete any additional tasks. Simply enjoy yourselves.
Do What Works for You
As for me, I’m going to keep returning to the woods. I’m going to keep basking in the renewing power of God’s created world, and I’m going to let him refresh my mind.
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 Click To TweetA 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.
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