Have you noticed a lack of awe and wonder in your life? Do you feel drained by the continual demands of life? Do you miss seeing beauty around you? Maybe you feel overwhelmed by the bad news and the troubles presented in the barrage of news broadcasts? When I begin to feel sucked dry by life circumstances and I hunger for the awe and wonder of our Creator I know a few good questions to ask myself:
What is pulling on and draining my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual resources? Take a few moments to examine each of those areas of life, being attentive to any areas the Holy Spirit’s highlighting is helpful. Are my activities more life-giving for me or do they suck life from me?
How do we reestablish awe and wonder in our lives? Not everyone will be replenished the same way. I have found the exchange of stopping some things while adding or increasing others are what best helps me.
For example, taking control of what I can helps. Turning off noise or at least limiting it, especially the news, is a big help to me. That also helps me not worry about things I cannot control. Getting exercise, eating well, and sleeping enough all play a part in my physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Reading the word of God and worship always help, but sometimes I need to feed the uniqueness that makes me, me. What do you like to do, and what are you good at?
Photography is one of those things that feeds me, especially getting outside. It does not have to be nature. The light and lines of architecture also fascinates me. A while ago, I gave myself permission to stop to take a photo now, right when something catches my eye. It will never be the same later. How many times did I come back later, even only a few minutes later, and it was gone. Either the event was over, the light was no longer good or something else happened to make it ordinary rather than exceptional.
Proverbs 13:12 says it well. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Fulfilling our God-given desires breathes life into us. Some activities and achievements that fulfill our desires remind us we are alive, and this is why. . . at least part of why they are so important.
Consider dance, music, sport, art, walking a beach or hiking a mountain, reading a good book. . . or writing, spending time with friends, and family. What is it that feeds you? Doing those things can be an act of worship because you are using your God-given gifts and talents. What life-sucking thing can you exchange for a life-giving thing? Perhaps you have many options, or only a few options, depending on your phase of life. Ask Abba to show you how you can feed your soul and spirit, then listen carefully.
“Delight yourself in the Lord ,and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” Psalm 37:4,5
