Re-Creation and Recreation

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:15–16)

There are two ways to look at a time of vacation.

One way is through the eyes of the typical human perspective. We work hard and as we work our energy reserves are used up, impatience begins to show, and a lack of concentration with details, so we pull away for a period of rest and relaxation. In that time of rest we recharge our batteries and come back somewhat refreshed, more relaxed, ready again to face the frustrations of the work place. But a deadly spiral, or a chronic unhealthy pattern establishes itself — we live on our own strength, with our own agenda, expecting to get by the best we can by periodically renewing our batteries. And, just like electric batteries, with every re-charge we seem to store less energy.

Another way is through the eyes of Christ, looking into the means that God has created for us to renew ourselves. God’s way literally re-creates us from the inside out because it depends on his power. The first part of the process is similar — at least initially — and we work and get tired, easily distracted, find it hard to concentrate, and have a lack of clear judgment. But we need not just rest to re-charge with an ever dwindling power of personal reserve. We need more. We need for God to do a new work deep within us, to spiritually restore us, and to put something there within our souls that was not there before.

Paul wrote beautifully of this dynamic renewal that God works in our hearts in 2 Corinthians 4:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16–18)

A time of renewal for a Christian is not merely about relaxing by the beach, playing sports, or sleeping later in the morning — though all of those things may be done. Rather the heart of spiritual renewal is time with God, listening to his voice, reading his Word, praying to him, communing with him, and letting his Spirit have the extra time he needs to do a deeper work.

While I am off for a few days I am spending every morning in a time like this — reading, listening, praising, meditating, and drawing from him the divine energy that he alone provides. I am also taking time for family, eating ice cream with grandkids — those essential things — and might even have time to finish my novel. But the heart of inner renewal has to be a time of fellowshiping with God. And that work that he does in our innermost being is what gives us increasingly more strength for the challenges that wait for us.

So, how do you refresh yourself? If you are just doing it in the flesh, then you will find your patience running lower and lower over the course of time. If, however, you are doing it in the Spirit you will find your resources growing more and more, and you will become a stronger, more mature, happier, more useful person. You will learn to live in the daily power of the Spirit.