Like a cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, God’s Word and creative times with Him can refresh your soul. In Devotions for Women On the Go, I share a few creative ideas through the acrostic “Refresh” for unique summer devotions:
1. Relocate
Move outdoors. Create a quiet-time oasis using a patio chair, a garden bench, or under a trellis or gazebo. Make a quiet-time basket or bag and fill it with a new devotional, a colorful empty journal, colored pens and highlighters and a Bible in a new translation you have been wanting to try.
2. Escape
Dig into a Bible character’s life who you share something in common with. Learn courage from Jael; love from mother Mary; loyalty from Mary Magdalene; relationship from Ruth and Naomi; leadership from Miriam; wisdom from Deborah.
3. Fall in
Submerge yourself in a "digging deep" Bible study. My Logos Bible software links me to hundreds of word meanings, study helps, the original language and links to explain how that word fits into history and culture. These “rabbit trails” often lead me to exactly what God needs me to learn for my life.
4. Refocus
Take a look at some area of stress, weakness, or discouragement and use the summer weeks to reboot or rebuild your life. In 10 Best Decisions a Woman Can Make, I explain how to trade in your weakness for God’s strength. Make a list of your fears, frustrations and foibles and then ask, "What is a trait of God that is opposite of this?" For example, if you are anxious, spend the summer studying God’s peace.
5. Express
Use the summer to create some piece of art, a drawing, a quilt or other artistic expression of a passage of scripture, a book of the Bible, or a familiar passage like 1 Cor. 13 (the love chapter) or Gal. 5:22-23 (the fruit of the Spirit).
6. Share
Invite your spouse into your quiet time. Read A Couple’s Journey With God or other devotional for married couples to connect to God and your spouse.
7. Hike
Travel the summer devotional journey with friends. One summer, women all over the globe read together LOL with God: Messages of Hope and Humor for Women. Sharing that day’s devotional with friends enriched our relationships. Girlfriends in God daily email devotional available on Crosswalk.com could be another springboard for discussions about God, His Word and what you are learning.
