Finding Renewal in Summertime

 When a person faints, they experience the temporary loss of consciousness caused by lack of blood or oxygen flowing to the brain. People have fainted at weddings, sports events, during moments of extreme surprise, and in crowded rooms.
 
In Genesis 25:29 we read that when Esau came home “he was faint” because he was famished.  He made a foolish decision to trade his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew.  One time when the Israelites were “faint and worn out,” we read in Deuteronomy 25:18 that they became easy prey for an enemy army.  In the New Testament we read of the time when Jesus fed a crowd with miraculous bread and fish so that they wouldn’t faint or collapse along the way (Matthew 15:32-38).
 
Fainting is sometimes used to describe spiritual weakness or a person’s lack of courage.  Moses’ army officers told their men that if they were “afraid or fainthearted,” they should return home so that they didn’t dishearten the other soldiers (Deuteronomy 20:3, 8).  And the Apostle Paul encouraged the church to not grow weary and faint when they should be doing good (Galatians 6:9).
 
We sometimes faint, but God never faints.  He never passes out from fear.  He never cowers in a corner to escape danger.  He never loses his nerve.  Isaiah 40:28-29 says, “Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the            everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
 
Occasionally we struggle with temptation, or we feel discouraged, or we wonder if God is really present with us.  Sometimes our souls feel faint when life gets tough, and like the physical body, the spiritual part of us needs a balance of exercise, rest, and nourishment.  Summertime is a great time to get your life back in balance.
 
If you’re an inactive Christian, get off the bench and put your faith to work.  If you’re an overworked Christian, take a break and rediscover why rest is necessary and refreshing.  If you’re  spiritually faint, take time to feed on God’s Word, make time to pray to your heavenly Father, and get into the routine of regular worship with the church.  You’ll be glad you did.
 
Isaiah 40:30-31 says, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  The Lord desires to renew your strength, but you need to be doing the spiritual disciplines that allow God to work in you.
 
Working together to win together,
Tyler

---