Revive Your Soul

Scripture: Psalm 119:25-32

Aim: The aim of this program is for participants to realize that it is not unusual to find ourselves going through periods of spiritual drought, whether because of life circumstances, grief, distraction, unrepented sin, or even unknown causes. We are invited to receive and participate in the revival of our souls, a work done only by our gracious God.

Suggested Activities

• Celebrate National Soup Month by making soup-in-a-jar for shut-ins, a local independent older adult living facility, families with new babies, pantry clients. (You could even tie in the concept of “reviving” the dried veggies with water, the way God revives our souls with the Living Water.)
• Invite a master gardener to come and speak on taking care of house plants and how to revive them when needed. Perhaps participants can take part in transplanting cuttings from a larger plant to share with others.
• Invite a Christian mental health professional to come talk about the nuances in seasonal depression, anxiety, grief, hormonal fluctuations, and how to take care of ourselves or our friends who might be experiencing these challenges.
• Brainstorm together some “soul reviving” practices, perhaps practicing one together.
• Within the devotion, there will be a couple of opportunities to respond, which will require a few small resources if desired. It can be accomplished without these resources, and modifications are suggested in context.

Springboard Ideas for Responses During the Devotional

• Post-it^® Response (supplies needed: packs of Post-it^® notes, pens, two poster boards)
  • Have packs of Post-it^® notes and pens available on the tables
  • Affix one poster board to the wall that says “Barriers” at the top, and another that says “Practices”
  • During response times, have participants write their response on Post-it^® notes and stick them to the appropriate board.
• White Board Response (Supplies needed: white board. dry-erase markers)
  • Have the board divided in two columns, which read: “Barriers” and “Practices”
  • During the response times, ask the participants share their ideas, and assign someone to record them in the appropriate column.
• Sharing Out Loud
  • During the response times, ask participants to respond and making sure that the group can hear the responses.

Have Psalm 119:25–32 printed as a handout in whatever translation is most appropriate for your group.

A Gardener?

Confession, I am not a gardener, nor am I a very reliable plant parent. In fact, I often refer to myself as a Plant Hospice worker, where plants can come and die peacefully and with dignity while under my “care.” I don’t know a lot about different plants and the kinds of care they require – I am far more comfortable with caring for people. However, I am getting better at learning the rhythms and needs of the few plants I have managed to keep mostly alive in my house.

I recently had an opportunity to take over care for a plant that a former colleague left behind. It was wilted, having been left in a cold, dark office for a little too long. As it sat on my windowsill and received regular water and sunlight, it slowly began to look healthy again… until Christmas. While we were away on vacation, this plant was not strong enough to withstand the harsh conditions of neglect, and soon wilted again.

Have you ever found yourself in a season where your spirit felt a little wilted? I certainly have, and those have been some of the more confusing seasons of my life. Perhaps you can relate. Unfortunately, depending on one’s generation or culture, not everyone is super comfortable with admitting when things are kind of “off.”

What are some of the barriers you can think of that hinder people from sharing with others when they feel down? (Allow responses in the method you have chosen, using the “barriers” board or column. If they need some suggestions to get the ball rolling, some might include the following:)

• Fear of
  • … what others might think
  • … needing to explain it, when I don’t know how to understand it myself
  • … no one wanting to listen / no one caring
  • … looking “weak”
• Guilt over unrepented sin
• Avoidance / Denial

When it comes to my plants, I know for sure that if I don’t address whatever is causing the wilt, they won’t be revived. I have found that the same is true with my emotions, my body, and my spirit.

In the Bible, the psalms contain excellent examples of how one might pray through every season of life – including those in which one’s soul may feel as if it’s wilting. In Psalm 119, we find these words in verses 25 – 32 (NLT):

My soul clings to the dust;

revive me according to Your word.

When I told of my ways, You answered me;

teach me Your statutes.

Make me understand the way of Your precepts,

and I will meditate on Your wondrous works.

My soul melts away for sorrow;

strengthen me according to Your word.

Put false ways far from me;

and graciously teach me Your law.

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I set Your ordinances before me.

I cling to Your decrees, O Lord;

let me not be put to shame.

I run the way of Your commandments,

for You enlarge my understanding.

• What seems to be happening? (Allow responses.)
• What do you notice about the psalmist? (Allow responses; prompts might include: he or she confesses (26) and seeks to understand God’s ways (27); wants to be taught God’s Word (29).)
• What do you notice about God? (Allow responses; prompts might include: God revives our souls (25); God answers me (26); God’s wonderous works can be meditated upon (27).)
• What practices does the psalmist seem to choose to work through this difficult season? (Allow responses in the method you have chosen, using the “practices” board or column; prompts might include: praying; confession (26); meditation (27); study and learning (26, 27).)

You may feel as though your spirit is vibrant and healthy right now – and that’s great! It’s normal, though, and even likely, that we will all find ourselves going through seasons where we feel somewhat “wilty” and need to follow the example of the psalmist: seek God, meditate on Him and His ways, and maybe give some other practices a try as well. (Lead into a response time appropriate for your group.)