Barbra Gentry-Pugh

Refreshed in His Presence

July 20, 2025

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19 (NIV)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1–3a (NKJV)

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 (NIV)

Last week, my friend Wilma and I managed to carve out a morning to walk along the Detroit Riverwalk. As we walked, we reflected on our upcoming week and our full calendar. We have often commented about when we were working full-time, going to school, serving in ministry, being a caregiver, volunteering, community events, and it does not appear that our schedules have slowed down. The pace hasn’t really lessened, just changed.

We often talk about our physical health, how much rest we get, our plans, and even our aches and pains. But how often do we pause long enough to check on the condition of our souls? The soul, the seat of our inner life, the part of us that feels, thinks, chooses, and desires. It is where our mind (thoughts), will (decisions), and emotions (feelings) reside. It’s where emotional and spiritual exhaustion quietly accumulates, and where unresolved wounds linger beneath the surface.

While the body connects us to the physical world and the spirit connects us to God, the soul bridges the two, influencing both how we relate to others and how we respond to God. In Hebrew, the word for soul is nephesh, meaning “life,” “self,” or “inner being.” In Greek, the word psuchē is where we get the English word psyche, referring to the human personality or the immaterial essence of a person.

God, as your Good Shepherd, is deeply concerned with the condition of your SOUL! The inner self, the unique, God-breathed essence of who you are. It carries your personality, houses your deepest pains and joys, and is the very place where healing must begin. When your soul is aligned with God’s truth, your life begins to reflect His peace, power, and purpose. He knows when it’s parched, neglected, or burdened under the weight of responsibilities. He doesn’t call us to keep going at all costs, He calls us to come away and be refreshed.

There are seasons when the soul grows weary, when the demands of life, ministry, relationships, and the weight of responsibilities seem to drain every ounce of strength. Even the most committed Believer in Christ can find themselves physically worn, emotionally empty, and spiritually parched, yet there is always a sacred invitation waiting for us in the stillness: to be refreshed in His presence.

God never intended for us to run on empty. He calls us to come away, to stop striving, and simply rest in Him. Acts 3:19 reminds us that as we turn our hearts back to Him, not just in repentance, but in renewed dependence, we are met not with judgment, but with refreshing. This refreshment is not just for the spirit; it renews the mind, soul, and even the body.

When we are depleted, the temptation is to fix it ourselves: another nap, another task checked off, another scroll through our phones. But the deeper refreshing the soul longs for, true renewal, comes from being with HIM in His presence, where heaviness lifts. Clarity returns. Peace floods. Joy begins to rise again. Whether you’re battling emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, or spiritual dryness, it is refreshing in HIM is your wellspring.

Have you been seeking refreshment in activity or in His presence? What specific areas of your life feel depleted right now, physically, emotionally, relationally, or spiritually? What would it look like to simply sit with God today, without an agenda?

What Refreshes The Soul?

♥ God’s faithful, loving character refreshes the soul.

Psalm 42:2 – I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and stand before him?

Psalm 63:1 – O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 90:14 – Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

♥ Our relationship with Jesus refreshes the soul.

Matthew 11:28 – Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

♥ God’s Word refreshes the soul.

Psalm 19:7 – The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Psalm 119:25 – I lie in the dust, completely discouraged; revive me by your word.

Psalm 119:50 – Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.

♥ Time spent alone with God in prayer refreshes the soul.

Mark 1:35 -The next morning, Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.

Mark 6:46 – After telling everyone goodbye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

♥ Our obedience to God refreshes the soul.

Isaiah 28:12 – God’s people could have rest in their own land if they would only obey him, but they will not listen.

Ezekiel 18:31 – Put all your rebellion behind you, and get for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel?

Ezekiel 36:26 – I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart.

♥ Our confession and repentance of sin refresh the soul.

Psalm 51:2, 10, 12 – Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. . . . Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

Isaiah 57:15 – The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts.”

Acts 3:19-20 – Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins. Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will send Jesus your Messiah to you again.

♥ Discipline refreshes the soul.

Hebrews 12:11-12 – No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 – That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!

♥ Eternal perspective refreshes the soul.

Proverbs 11:25 – The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

♥ Ministering to others refreshes the soul.

Psalm 133:1, 3 – How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony! . . . Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life forevermore.

“Just you and Him.
No striving.
No checklist.
Just communion.
And in that holy space…
He pours out refreshing waters for your soul.”

YOUR HEART CHALLENGE: Take a moment to ask yourself, “How is my soul?” Am I running on empty? Am I filling my schedule more than I am filling my spirit? Is my soul at rest, or in need of restoration?

A REFRESHED HEART: A refreshed heart is a heart that has been renewed, re-aligned, and refreshed in the presence of God. It is no longer burdened by the weight of life’s demands, disappointments, or distractions, but refreshed by the gentle rhythm of grace, peace, and communion with the God the Father!

To be refreshed in His presence means:

Your peace is restored.
Your perspective is lifted from earthly craziness to heavenly calm.
Your weariness is exchanged for strength.
Your soul is rehydrated and refreshed by the Living Water.

PRAYER:  Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word that gives us clear instructions on how we can be refreshed in Your presence. Father, we come to You often weary and worn, desiring the kind of refreshment that only You can provide. Help us to pause and turn away from busyness and distractions, and instead, lean into Your presence. Father God, help us to allow You to restore what life has drained. Show us the areas that are buried in weariness and teach us to return to stillness with You. Renew our minds. Restore our bodies. Refresh our souls. Thank You for the promise of refreshing that comes from being in Your presence. Father, thank You for reminding us that You care about every part of who we are, spirit, soul, and body. We confess that we have often filled our days without checking in with our souls. Help us not just to rest physically, but to find deep refreshment in You. Quiet the noise within and lead us beside still waters once again. We surrender all to You, and renew and refresh us from the inside out, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.