Being refreshed and being a refresher.

After a long period of dry weather, a cool shower can often be very refreshing and helpful to the land in falls on.

We need times of refreshing in our lives. It can feel at times that spiritually, we’ve toiled through a dry and weary land and refreshment is in short supply.

O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek You;

My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You

In a dry and thirsty land

Where there is no water. – Psalm 63:1

Our very soul longs for refreshment, like the dear searching and panting for life giving water.

As the deer pants for the water brooks,

So pants my soul for You, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. – Psalm 42:1,2

We know that Jesus is our ultimate source of refreshment and we only need to come close to Him and drink. He said this of himself.

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. – John 7:37

But He didn’t leave it there. We also must be those who bring about refreshment to others. Holy Spirit will certainly fill us and refresh us in times of dryness. When we have been filled, then we can help others. Jesus goes on to say:

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” – John 7:38

It is a never ending source of amazement that God in His wisdom, chooses to use us in His mighty work. It is awesome to know that God wants to refresh us and also make us people who help refresh others, not just a bit, but with rivers of living water. Paul saw this happening in the life of Philemon.

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. – Philemon 1:4-7

This man, Philemon showed great love for God and his fellow believers. Not only showing his love with words, but also his actions and always being ready to share his faith with others. I believe we are meant to be sources of refreshment to each other.

Jesus said:

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” – Matthew 10:42

It is a wonderful privilege to enjoy Holy Spirit refreshing and to be used in a way which refreshes others. This is the active, engaged and involved people God intended us to be. Jesus at the centre, Holy Spirit working through us and all of us being refreshed and then being refreshers or others.

Let’s all enjoy Holy Spirit infilling and refreshment. Then look for opportunities to refresh others today.