Running on Empty?

IS YOU SOUL RUNNING ON EMPTY?

How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Psalm 84:1

Regardless if we realize it or not, our souls thirst for the Presence of God. Why? Because we are hard-wired to crave His Presence. As Blaise Pascall once said, “Man was created with a God-shaped hole in his soul that can only be filled by God himself.” Although we try to numb the ache, fill the void, and distract ourselves from this reality, we can’t escape the fact that our souls are created by God and for connection with Him.

We can easily recognize our soul’s thirst for God’s Presence by the symptoms of spiritual dehydration, which are depression, insecurity, anxiety or emptiness, feeling easily overwhelmed, or just plain exhausted. This innate craving for God’s presence can leave us feeling frustrated because nothing in the world can satisfy our longing for God.

How about you? Do you feel like you’re running on empty? Do you need time to reconnect with Jesus?

Here’s the good news, not only are we wired for connection with the Living God, but He also longs to meet with us. The entire Bible speaks to this truth. Our God is relational, loving, and the One who initiates a deep and meaningful relationship. But just like any other friendship, our relationship with Jesus must be nurtured if it is to grow deeper and more meaningful. Any friendship that isn’t invested in begins to wither, but the ones that we intentionally spend time fostering are the ones that thrive.

One way an intimate relationship with God is cultivated is by intentionally spending time in His Presence. This is the primary reason we host Redeemed Institute each summer, which is our summer getaway at Pensacola Beach. We plan this event each summer so that women can step away from the deadlines and demands of everyday life and intentionally seek God.

What if you set aside four days this summer to pursue God’s presence? I know one thing for certain, you will be transformed! I also believe you will experience a renewal in your soul that can’t be matched.

Check out this video for a glimpse at Redeemed Institute. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktgSjHNfVWg

JOIN US AT THE BEACH FOR REDEEMED INSTITUTE

I want to personally invite you to Redeemed Institute 2019, which is July 21-24 in Pensacola Beach. We believe the beach setting provides the perfect space for women to experience God’s love, hear His voice, and find restoration for their souls. Redeemed Institute is unique in that we are a small, intimate gathering, which provides our attendees access to the teachers, space to ask questions, and cultivate authentic community with other women.

Mornings and evenings at Redeemed Institute are spent in worship and Bible study, while afternoons are free to enjoy the beach and relax with friends.Institute 2019 welcomes Jackie Hill Perry, Tonya Riggle, Leigh Kohler, and Marian Jordan Ellis as our keynote speakers. Additionally, we offer break-out sessions on a wide-variety of topics.

Visit www.redeemedinstitute.org for detailed schedule, FAQ, and registration options. (We offer conference only or all-inclusive packages which include hotel accommodations.)  I hope to see many of you at the beach this summer!

For His Glory,

Marian