Stay Spiritually Refreshed!

Our area has been in a persistent drought for most of the summer and now it is early fall. There are contractors digging up and down our street upgrading the natural gas line infrastructure. They must haul in large containers of water to enable their workers to dig and bore holes.

Recently I engaged one of the project team members about how they thought everything was going. He said, “It’s so dry! We are used to finding some moisture at six feet. But it’s like rock and it slows us down!” This very dry season in our weather has many of us identifying with the Texas local who claimed that the four seasons ought to be renamed: drought, flood, blizzard, and twister!😊

Lake Sallateeska

I participated this week with a group of twenty-five pastors and church leaders for fellowship and spiritual refreshment. We met for two days of serious study and considerable “carrying on” at a Southern Illinois encampment that has a comfortable, but humble, motel unit and conference area.

This year’s study focused on the “I Am Sayings” of Jesus in John’s gospel. An inspiring south wide seminary professor of New Testament and Greek led us. Our group regards itself as “The Majestic Fraternity!” Some of us have been meeting like this for over fifty years! It’s a special bunch!

How are you staying spiritually refreshed? An important aspect of my spiritual development has been on occasions to intentionally “get away” from my usual routine. I like to be with life-long friends in a beautiful setting where we can engage the Word of God and each other. Though it is just a two-day annual retreat, “The Majestic Fraternity” is a refreshing break from the norm!

Josh Hunt, (popular author, speaker, and small group specialist), has written another book recently with the provocative title: The Eternal Childhood of the Believer. In this work, Hunt addresses the question, “Why do so many Christians stay stuck in spiritual infancy?” In his discussion of why Christians are not growing in their faith, Hunt states that “Spiritual childhood is meant to be a phase. Not a destination!”

This book also emphasizes the significant role that the Holy Spirit plays in the life of the believer. The person of the Holy Spirit is our “Teacher, Comforter, Convictor, Empowerer, and Transformer. Without the Spirit, even the best spiritual practices become dry routine. But when you are filled, you experience love, boldness, and peace that isn’t yours – It’s His.”  (p.104).

Are you in a dry place in your spiritual life? Do you feel like you are not growing in Christ? One of my peers said to the group in this recent retreat, “I want to grow in my relationship with Christ. I know some things about Jesus from years of Bible study, but in these remaining years of my life, I want to really know Him.” He was referring to something more intimate than just Bible knowledge.

The Apostle Paul had a passionate desire for more of Christ when he boldly exclaimed to his Philippian friends, “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” (Philippians 3:10-11. NLT).

Do you have a fresh desire for more of Christ? Do you need to experience the power of the Holy Spirit? Has your discipleship journey become dry and mechanical? You may need to get away from your routine to a different place. Take some time to put yourself in a space where you can find spiritual renewal, be replenished, and refreshed!

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
©2018-2025 All rights reserved.
Serve by Design. mjkministries.com

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