I have a dog run. This is a fenced area where the dogs can be outside to attend to their personal needs anytime they want. The area is thickly layered with gravel, making cleanup and disinfecting easy. The gravel, however, gets depleted; it gets eaten, not by the dogs, but by the ground itself. Little by little, the earth absorbs the gravel back into itself. To keep on top of this problem, I replenish it once or twice yearly.

Likewise, I, too, have found that I need replenishing from time to time. My physical, mental, and spiritual being becomes depleted by the cares of this world. I get worn thin. My patience is sorely tried. My temper bubbles more easily. What is normally a pleasure becomes a burden. My spirit is dry, and grumbling can easily replace praise and thanksgiving. Perhaps, most of my readers know exactly what I mean: human beings becoming depleted in various areas of their lives is, indeed, a fact of earthly life.

Becoming depleted, however, can be kept to a minimum by learning to allow ourselves to be replenished before the situation becomes dire. As Benjamin Franklin advised, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In other words, it is wiser, whenever possible, to stop a problem from happening, than to deal with its consequences. So, today, let's do just that:

Psalm 34:17-18 – The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (NIV)

If we are beginning to feel tired and worn thin, depleted by whatever struggles that we are wrestling with, let us make a point of stopping and doing as the psalmist did amidst his times of need. Let us cry out to the Lord, Who not only hears, but is able to help. He is able to replenish us — body, mind, and soul — as we look to Him amidst our need, for He and He alone knows us inside and out. He knows just what we require even before we ourselves do. Perhaps it is rest or food, laughter or friendship, a healing touch, a word of truth, a holiday, financial assistance, a solution to an ongoing problem, strength, or courage. Whatever it is, He knows. Let us therefore be wise, take advantage of His wonderful knowledge. and allow Him to guide, to direct, and to fill us up anew, for an ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You know us inside out. Help us in wisdom to cry out to You for the replenishment of body, mind, and soul, before our situation becomes dire, that we might glorify You at all times and in all ways. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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