Filling Myself With Good Things

Life has a way of emptying us. It can leave us barren of energy and drain away our goodness. When the needle on the tank begins to settle on empty we are in trouble.

This last five-day trip to Albuquerque followed by a cold nearly purged me of all my zest. When I woke up this morning I gave myself a mission: refuel on good things.  And, as I set out to load up my heart, body, and mind, God blessed me at every corner.

I filled my body with healthy food and lots of water. I could feel my energy begin to be restored even though I still had many activities on my plate for the day. 

I filled my minds will great thoughts. I found rest from worry as I worked on our budget and filled out paperwork. God reminded me over and over that He has never left us and never will. I thought good things about myself and my family and my capabilities. 

I filled my heart with hope as I worked with the girls. Micaela is starting to demonstrate that she understands so many age-appropriate concepts. And Adela's language has exploded in both English and Spanish.

I filled my soul with joy. I can feel God all around me and in me. He is bigger than all my fears and challenges. Every second I spend in prayer I can feel peace crowd out all my weary trials.
 
Life sets us in seasons of business that leak away that goodness in us. We usually cannot give ourselves a break, slowdown, or escape to a retreat. However, there are a plethora of ways to restore ourselves simply by focusing on the positive aspects of our world and concentrate on letting those good things fill us. 

In the book of Luke Jesus says this: A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45)

What are you storing up in your heart? We are blessed to have a choice about what is allowed to enter us. Not just physically (eating and drinking) but also emotionally and mentally. We can choose to focus our mind on wholesome ideas and dreams. We can choose to shake off the anger or sadness and live in joy. 

Restoration is offered to us everyday. 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:1-3 ESV