There it was right on the door of the gas station. A sign – advertising a fast-food restaurant! It read, “You’ve got to refresh to be fresh.” “Huh,” I thought to myself. “That’s a little bit remarkable. There’s a verse in the Bible that talks about that.”
“A generous soul will prosper, whoever refreshes others, will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 So, let’s talk about refreshing for just a minute. What does that look like? What does that mean?What does it mean to be refreshed?
Have you ever been mowing on a hot summer day? When I was young, I absolutely loved mowing the lawn. I totally enjoyed getting on that riding lawn mower and getting lost behind the growl of the motor. I would sing to the top of my lungs because I thought nobody could hear me. I would pretend to be my favorite artist of the day.
But those summer days could get really, really hot. It was always refreshing to get a big, tall glass of iced tea, or water. Those days, that was what it meant to me to be refreshed. Then, I could successfully finish the job,
And, as the years would have it and history “repeats itself,” I’ve often found myself taking water out to our children as they’ve been mowing our yard. It takes “refreshing” to be able to “finishstrong!”
Refresh. I think it’s something worth thinking about. Our physical bodies need certain things and times of refreshing. Food, water, rest – all of these are necessary for our physical sustenance. However, really living is more than physical existence. Our spirits also hunger and thirst for an encouraging word, a joyous smile, or whatever brings peace to our minds.
The secret to being refreshed is to be in touch with the One who knows how to give us what we need. Our Heavenly Father has provided a source for us. Jesus, His Son, is Himself the Spring of Living Water. When that spring pours into us, with the help of His Holy Spirit, it makes it possible for us to refresh – encourage and bless - others.
Our spirits need food, water, rest. As Christ followers we find ALL those things in HIM! As we take the time to receive from Christ what we need, we find things really do all work together. We find ourselves with strength, with grace to face another day of joy in the Lord . . . and the blessing of being able to bless others.
When we’re filled to overflowing, we can “give out” the “blessing of refreshing” to others. Amazingly when we “give it,” we find ourselves receiving.
So, be blessed today, just from a little gas station sign I read – “You’ve got to refresh to be fresh.” And watch out for the boomerang of blessing when you “give it away!”
~Janene Dubbeld