The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. (Psalm 19:7a NIV)
Do you ever feel drained? You’re grateful that you have a job, but its challenges wear you out. You love your family, but caring for them saps your physical and emotional energy. Sometimes we feel like living is sucking the life out of us. When living in a broken world wears you down, where can you go to refresh your soul?
David was ancient Israel’s greatest king. As a leader of millions of people, many of whom didn’t always appreciate him, David knew the meaning of fatigue. In Psalm 19:7 David wrote, “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.” In the midst of the daily challenges he faced, David found his source of restoration in the Bible.
Although much of the Bible was yet to be written, including the entire New Testament, David had enough of the Scriptures that he could find refreshment while living in a world that was every bit as broken as ours is today. In contrast to the world in which we live, “the law of the Lord is perfect.” While everything else around us is flawed, God’s Word is perfect because it comes from Him. When everything else drains us, the Scriptures refresh us because they are the perfect words of the gracious God who renews us.
Many people find the Psalms especially encouraging since their authors wrote them out of their own life experiences. They’re a great place to turn when your soul needs to be refreshed.
Take a few minutes to read Psalm 19. But before you do, ask God to refresh your soul through His Word. And the next time you find that living in this broken world is dragging you down, take a few minutes to return to Psalm 19 and ask God to restore you again.
What passages of Scripture do you find most refreshing to your soul? Share your thoughts below.