Lucy wants to be refreshed in the area of personal worship and prayer. Here is some help for her.

From Vancouver, WA
When I need refreshed in worship I tend to do several things. First I try to focus on God's attributes. Speaking who He is to Him, such as: You are my strength, my hope, my comfort, my councilor... always helps me to enter into His presence. I praise him for His promises such as, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" or personal promises He has spoken to me directly. I also tend to find a place either outside, or by a window to look out at His creation while worshiping Him. I always feel closer to Him when I look out upon the trees, mountains, flowers, streams,.... I also seek Him in His word. I try to listen for His voice in scripture or by just being quiet before Him. I will read His word to Him and express His attributes written there. Sometimes I worship by putting on a worship CD and sing and dance before Him. His energy tends to revive me and I am able to better focus on who He is in my life with His energy and strength. Once in a while I seek out a new/ fresh encounter with worship through a new musical worship CD. It usually revives my spirit to hear a new expression of worship to Him. Sometimes I visit another congregation and worship with them. The fresh encounter with them takes away the sense of sameness or being caught in a rut. Mostly I just call on God to release in me a fresh sense of His presence and anointing to worship Him. When my heart truly seeks to worship Him, He will surely grant the desire of my heart.

Chris Bulkley

From Mansfield Center, CT
Some things that have really helped me lately to refresh and renew my personal worship and prayer time with the Lord are: I start my morning off by playing some of my favorite worship tapes (dig out some that you haven’t listened to for awhile) while I am getting breakfast and tea in the kitchen. This causes me to think about the Lord first thing as my day begins. I am compelled to sing along and it’s when we begin to open our mouths and sing to the Lord that something happens to our minds and in our hearts. It brings a feeling of happiness and joy that causes me to think upon the Lord and this affects the rest of my day. Later on in the day, I have been taking a long brisk walk down our country roads. It’s still a bit cold here in Connecticut so I bundle up and put on my gloves before I venture out. As I walk in the bright sunshine, fresh air, and see all the beautiful surroundings, I begin to talk to the Lord and express my heart of thanks to Him for such a beautiful day and I become very aware of His presence. This walk also clears my mind (I am away from the house, people, and the telephone) so I can begin to hear in my spirit the people the Lord wants me to pray for and after a time of praying scriptures will come to me that I look up when I get back home from the walk. I’ve been doing this daily for over two weeks now and I feel very refreshed and renewed by having a change in my routine after being shut in all winter. Change is good and we need to do something different from time to time so we don’t get stuck in a rut.

Linda Gilmore

From Orange, MA
That was a very good question. How do I find encouragement? Sometimes, I need to be ruthlessly brave, and keep reaching out when I want to sit down and have a pity party. I try to surround myself (either in person, by phone or e-mail) with strong Christian women. I keep on reaching out and giving until I find my need met. When it comes right down to it, depression cannot be an option. I may fall into it occasionally, but I do not have the right or privilege
to stay there. God has called me to a ministry. People are depending on me. I cannot fail the Lord. I also make sure that I stay physically and mentally healthy. I eat right. I get my sleep. I get time off for fun. Yes, fun. All of these things add to a strength that allows me to stay encouraged.

Jackie Quattrocelli

From Voluntown, CT
I have a response to Lucy leader's question.
1) if your church has a time of worship & intercession - GO! Relax in God's presence and let Him minister to you (we have an hour of that every Wed. night at our church.)
2) Pray and intercede for others - it will help lift you up and refresh your soul!
3) Do some "saintly" reading such as "Living Beyond the Ordinary - Developing and Extraordinary Relationship with God" by Tom Kraeuter and "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer.
4) Last but not least, put on a worship tape at home or in the car and just sing praises and thanksgiving to God - He is the only one that can and will pour His cool living water over your
life and bring you into a new and special relationship with Him!

Barbara Young