Be REFRESHED!

Refreshed

Wow, the year is already on the downhill slope to summer! Another wonderful winter is under our belts and excitement is in the air as spring desperately tries to conquer the cold. What a wonderful time of year! Spring is the renewal and revival of all things gone to sleep for the winter. It’s refreshing isn’t it? To step outside in the brisk and sunny days of spring and take a deep breath of fresh air brings the hope of warmer days ahead.

God’s word always refreshes me, but the other day my devotions took me someplace unexpected but refreshing: Philemon. I’ve always passed over this one chapter blurb in the Bible, but that day I paused, considered, and let the Spirit teach me.

“I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you…Refresh my heart in Christ.”  –Philemon 7&20

 Paul is calling Philemon to continue in what he has been doing: to refresh those around him with his faith and following after Christ. This reminded me that even when the winter is long, when it just won’t give up and keeps hitting us with snowstorms, I need to be refreshed and to refresh others. I need to dip daily into the eternally deep pool of God’s Word and take in what He has for me until I overflow with His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. And let Him refresh me…

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” -Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)

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