Renewing Our Strength

Renewing Our Strength by Dr. D. James Kennedy

"So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed."

Luke 5:16

When was the last time you sat still and stared into space? I’m not talking about the short daydreams that float through your mind during the day. I mean true, relaxed, uninterrupted, peaceful nothingness. Have you had any of that lately?

We lead busy lives, and because of our many commitments, we tend to keep going and going. We look for results in everything we do, and if we do something that produces nothing, we view the time spent as wasted.

But we need that time of space, of nothingness. We need to pull ourselves away from the hustle and bustle to regroup, reflect, rejuvenate. Jesus, our great example in life, often withdrew. He had thousands of people to minister to and heal. He had disciples to teach and only three short years to get the job done. Yet despite His great mission of saving the world, He took time away, spending time alone with His Father.

Life is a pilgrimage, and as we travel, we need strength along the way. This journey is a struggle, a battle, warfare. And as good soldiers of Christ, we need strength to win that battle. We don’t gain that strength by continuing to strive. We gain it by waiting on the Lord.

The prophet Isaiah declared the great truth that He who gives life can continually renew it. The Scripture reads, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31). What a marvelous promise that is!

When we get physically or spiritually tired, we need quiet time with the Lord. A tree does not bear fruit always. It has seasons for blooming and seasons for growth and seasons for rest. So it is with us. We have times of service, then we need times to come away with God and allow Him to renew our strength.

Do you feel a little worn out today? Do you need strength to face the challenges before you? Then come away today. Spend some time alone with the Lord. Allow your Father to give you what you need—rest.

"Christians who don’t come apart for a while will just come apart." Anonymous