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A reflection and prayer to start the day with the Revd Jonathan Thomas, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Abergavenny.

Good morning. I could feel the sun beating down on my head and the beads of sweat lapping my face. My heart was pounding and my legs were burning. I was half way up the Skirrid Fawr, one of the mountains that surrounds the beautiful town where I live, Abergavenny. It’s known as the Holy Mountain, and it’s a place I love to walk with others, or alone, to pray and enjoy God’s wondrous creation.

When I was walking up the mountain with my eldest boy last weekend, the shining sun gave me an acute feeling of thirst and fatigue. Even the small backpack I’d taken seemed like a burden I would gladly lose.

When we got to the summit and walked into the remains of St Michaels Chapel, we gratefully sat down. Pulling out our bottles of water, we gulped the deliciously cooling and refreshing H2O like it was champagne. The burden was lifted and our souls were refreshed.

The Bible often talks of seasons and situations in life that are like being in a dry and arid place – or experiencing unquenchable thirst.

There’s a promise in one of the most famous Psalms, where God offers to lead us beside quiet waters and refresh our souls. In fact, Jesus picked up on that promise and declared that He was the One who would quench that thirst – being the water of life Himself.

When we are in seasons of dryness, or weighed down by the worries of life, we can approach the One who says, come to me and I will give you streams of living water. I will refresh your soul.

God, our Shepherd,
We come weary and worried.
Make us lie down in green pastures
Lead us beside still waters
Restore our souls
Thank you for the invitation to be refreshed.
In the precious name of Jesus.
Amen