Julie Gillies

Fact: Most women are nurturers and caretakers. We help, we see to details, we pinch-hit, we encourage. We’re always there for the ones we love. And that’s good. It’s how God designed us. But high levels of doing can lead to high levels of exhaustion. And it’s frequently where we find ourselves as the holidays approach our radar.

We’re tired. Stressed. Frazzled.

It’s no way to enter the holiday season.

Yet drained is often our reality. Today, we’re going to pray that God will begin to refresh our hearts. That He will revive us and stir our hearts as only He can. Then, in the middle of the Christmas crazy, we won't be. :-)

{Let’s Pray}

Father,

You are worthy of all adoration and praise. You are good and faithful and You always hear my prayers.

God I confess that my heart and brain and even my emotions are stressed and overloaded. I truly love caring for my family and friends, but I feel depleted, and I don’t want to face the upcoming holidays in this state. Will you please refresh my weary heart? Pour into every depleted place. Revive me. Pour out Your supernatural strength and stamina as I spend time with You.

God, Your word says that those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Thank you, God for refreshing me as I care for those You have placed into my life. Today, when I begin to feel stressed and overwhelmed, I will turn my heart toward You, breathe in Your sweet presence, and allow You to refresh and revive me. Give me wisdom and grace to rest in You. Thank you for preparing my heart so I can enter the holiday season supernaturally refreshed, rested, relaxed, and equipped by You. In the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) (NLT)