I sense God asking me to describe the “refreshers” I have in His presence each day, which I could define as a blend of basking in God’s presence, with a sense of unspeakable peace and being right where He wants me to be, and having conversations with Him.

Finding words to describe these experiences will be challenging, but I’ll do my best—in my back-country, down-to-earth way. I do not have this all figured out, but I’ll explain it the way I understand it.

I find my refreshers to be a lot like recharging my spiritual battery. During these experiences, I sense spiritual, mental, and physical “energy” soaking into me from all over. It is as though I am submerged in a pool of spiritual energy, which in turn affects me mentally and physically. (I’ll admit that I don’t like how that “pool of spiritual energies” sounds, but I can’t be too picky, or I will never get done…)

This “soaking in spiritual energy” also dissolves the junk, including every version of having a load on my mind. It equips me, in all areas, for my next step of life. Only God knows what I need for that next session of life, and He gives me exactly what it will take.

These refreshers are quite comparable to a preschooler cuddling up and relaxing in his loving father’s arms.

I decided that, on average, I have 3 to 6 of these refresher sessions each day.

I don’t know if I can adequately describe the how-to part, though I’ll try my best. And neither have I yet come across anyone else who has similar experiences. But the Lord reassures me that this “divine service” is available for everybody, not just Marcus Hurst.

First, just as with any miracle, one must have faith. If you believe you will never experience something like this, you never will.

You may wonder, how do you make yourself believe?

I suggest sincerely praying, something to the extent of, “Father, I want to believe. Give me the faith I need to surrender my life to You, and do whatever You want me to do, regardless of how scary Your will appears, and how much I’m mocked and persecuted for pursuing it…”

And hopefully, that prayer continues, in all sincerity, something like this: “Father, I’m doing it. Here’s the steering wheel of my life. You take control, and I’ll try my best not to argue with Your all-wise plan. I am committed to doing whatever You want me to do, and going wherever You want me to go. Period…”

Frequently, it is after reading a meditative thought, or when I have a specific problem on my mind, that I feel compelled to have a refresher. But sometimes the felt need to have a refresher is seemingly random. If I sense that a quick and light session will suffice, I will proceed where I am. But for a more intimate refresher, I go to bed, where I can totally relax my body and concentrate on my time with God. (I find it easier to give God complete control when I am completely relaxed.)

I then make sure I have handed all control over to my Lord, and I verify I am willing to do whatever He asks of me, while trusting He knows what’s best. (Anymore, I generally do not need to bother with this because it’s already taken care of.)

Thinking about it, I guess I’ll say: The next step is to “open the doors” and let the flow of “spiritual energies” begin.

I think it compares a little to oxygen, in that it is constantly pressing around us. We need only to believe enough to open up and receive it.

As far as I can tell, the problem generally lies in believing, and surrendering ourselves to God’s will. In eating at “God’s table”, we need to eat what He sets before us. If we have any amount of selfishness hiding in our secret places, we will want to eat what we want, and thus cannot receive the Father’s all-perfect ration.

When I have a specific problem in mind that needs a solution, I will lay that aside briefly until I get settled in, so to speak, and the spiritual energy “starts flowing.” Then, I bring the problem before the Lord, and, in a very real sense, we discuss it—just like a counselor analyzes an issue with a client.

I do not physically hear God’s voice in these discussions. I think and sometimes speak my side of the discussion, and His responses soak into me—like sunshine on a clear day.

(Now, for a bunny trail: My uncle Wilmer Hurst is the key person giving me spiritual insight and counseling. Thus, in my refreshers, I thought of it different times that these responses from God come to me just the way Wilmer would say it.

The way I interpret that is: These thoughts from God do not come in words, so my mind subconsciously translates them to words. [That’s another subject, but I’ll leave the rest of that second bunny trail alone for now.] Because Wilmer is the person I know who gives me similar advice, my mind subconsciously translates these thoughts to the way Wilmer would say it.)

I’ve already had refreshers while driving and working, though those experiences are often less profound. These freshers, and the accompanying “word from the Lord” also happen while singing, reading, or listening to a message. When it comes down to it, they can happen anytime my mind is quiet and relaxed.

I try to be very careful with the “insight from the Lord” that I receive in these refreshers, and I am quick to ask Him, “Are you sure…?” if it sounds questionable. I also try to be more specific than to causally refer to it as God talking to me.

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