What is a Refreshed Heart?

Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Philemon 1:20

I am a Christian Hedonist and much of my writing is influenced by this train of thought. If you would like to know more about it I would highly recommend John Piper’s, Desiring God. But the reason why I mention this is because this is what influenced the title of my blog and I felt that it would be good to start out my blog sharing how I got the name, Refresh My Heart.

If one where to read through the writings of Paul they would continually come across passages of how Paul is encouraged and refreshed by fellow believers that he knows and loves.

Here are a few examples:

Romans 15:32
so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.

1 Corinthians 16:18
For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.

2 Corinthians 7:13
For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

Philemon 1:7
For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul is a man that is refreshed through believers because of their love of Christ. This is a man who tells us that he was beaten, ship wrecked, thrown into prison, and was at sea for a day and night; yet he is continually encouraged by those who are living out a life for Christ.

The question that comes to mind is, ‘how are we being refreshed?’ Often times we tend to turn on the TV, or talk with our spouse, some even use nicotine or alcohol, and others can end up turning to pornography or harmful drugs; yet if we understood this refreshment that we received from service, as Paul did, would we need these other things?

My fear is that we in America have become numb to the Spirit and how it encourages us. We don’t seek refreshment from the people that we serve along side because either, 1) we don’t serve, or 2) those we serve with we don’t love.

Why is it that the church’s in India and China are growing yet they face persecution, why is it that they enjoy reading the Word of God and being in prayer? What are we missing? Sadly it is service. The more we lose of ourselves the more joy we have in Christ and eternally. It is a act of service to pray, to read with an intention to learn; through time this act becomes joyful and refreshing.

I end with the thought of how are we serving today, week, month, year? Pray, with a real heart that desires to serve, and see where God places you and see the happiness that comes into your life.

Prayer

Lord thank You for refreshing our hearts through one another, showing that we truly are one body with many parts. Lord I pray for those reading this that they may feel lead to serve and are open to where you send them. I ask that through service to you that they may recognize that their joy comes from you and nothing else. May we not mask our feelings with false things in this world but pursue you with a heart that wants to change the world. Amen.