The Pause that Refreshes

The Pause That Refreshes

In 1929 the Coca-Cola Company developed an ad campaign around the slogan “The Pause That Refreshes.” Of course, they were talking about drinking an ice cold Coke. We look for opportunities to take a few moments to stop and recharge. It’s a healthy habit, to allow your body to recover from the physical and mental stresses of life.

Spiritually, it’s also healthy to take time to be replenished.  In the Psalms, the term Selah is used a number of times. It means to pause and think about what the psalmist was saying. God tells us to pause and consider His words. When we do that, what we might have been thinking about takes a lesser priority to what God is saying to us.

Have you ever been to a butterfly enclosure?  When you enter and exit the exhibit you pass through two sets of doors. When you have entered the first set, you pause until the outer doors are closed before you enter the exhibit through the second set of doors. When you leave the enclosure you do the same thing but this time you pause long enough to make sure you aren’t taking any passengers out with you. You examine yourself to see that no hitchhikers are attached.

I think that this is a good picture of what God wants us to do in our daily walk with him. We can accumulate a lot of unwanted baggage without even being aware of it. If we practice the habit of pausing throughout our day, we can more easily check for unwanted baggage that we may have picked up. This baggage can be in the form of unforgiveness, bitterness, or anger. It can also be more subtle in the form of irritability, feeling stressed, and being impatient with others.

When we pause and reflect, even for a moment, we can get our focus back on God and allow Him to refresh us.

Yes, an ice cold coke might seem refreshing, but I would prefer the cool refreshing breath of the Holy Spirit restoring my soul any day.

Psalm 39:7  And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.

Psalm 68:19  Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God [who] is our salvation. Selah.

Psalm 143:6  I stretch out my hands to You; My soul [longs] for You, as a parched land. Selah.