✝ Daily Encouragement (3/28/23) "The Need For A Refreshing Spirit"

Published: Tue, 03/28/23

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.

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Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Lancaster County farm scene near Manheim, PA
Photo by Lamar Dourte. Click on photo to enlarge

"The Need For A Refreshing Spirit"

Message summary: Today you have a choice; will you be an up button or a down button? Refreshing words ultimately point to the hope we have in Christ.

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"He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25). “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints” (Philemon 1:7).

Over the last several days it seems we've had more than the normal amount of distressing news. From the killer tornadoes in Mississippi just days ago to the loss of seven lives at the chocolate factory explosion in Reading, a city we passed through this last Sunday.Many of us have probably enjoyed a product from this company since they make the hollow chocolate bunnies popular during Easter.

But then, dominating the news yesterday was the horrendous murders at a Christian school in Nashville. As one commentator stated it was "evil personified".

On a personal level I called a friend whose granddaughter's father died due to a longstanding drug addiction. Tragically, the little girl's mother had already died due to substance abuse less than 18 months ago. My goal was to provide some refreshing words. That's what we all need today regardless of what we are going through. Refreshing words ultimately point to the hope we have in Christ.

I heard an interesting teaching illustrating two types of impact we have on other people, using the buttons on an elevator as an illustration.

Consider being around those who are like an "up" button on the elevator. When you are around them they are energy givers, encouragers, people who have a powerful way of uplifting others. As I consider my long strand of friends through life I am blessed to have so many friends who have this characteristic. Even just a few minutes of "catch-up" conversation with them can be uplifting and refreshing.

Then there are those who seem to have only one button on their elevator; "down", sometimes all the way down to the basement! They are energy drainers, discouragers who just have a way of sucking the very life right out of you.

And yes, I have met my share of these types of people as well. Getting on the elevator with them (being around them) is not an "uplifting" experience! In fact, I’d be eyeing the emergency button to escape if it were possible!

Let me encourage each daily encouragement reader to consider the blessing of having a refreshing spirit. As the Proverb states, “He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25). I hope you are blessed by those having this quality today. In the tiny one chapter book of Philemon Paul writes a powerful commendation concerning Philemon: “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints” (Philemon 1:7).

Today we encourage you to conscientiously demonstrate this quality and let it resonate from your heart. The world certainly needs it. We’re all gifted differently in our personalities and will thus express refreshing qualities distinct to who we are. As I think about my long list of those who have brought joy, encouragement and refreshing through my life I consider how they are all different, yet each uses their gifts to uplift others.

Today you will interact with others in various settings. There will be those who encourage and refresh you today. May they strengthen you and take you up on the elevator of hope! Perhaps you will be the merciful provision for the weary, discouraged soul whom you meet in the course of this day who is in need of an uplift. Today you have a choice; will you be the "up" button or the "down" button?

Be encouraged today, ( Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we’re reminded in the book of Romans that no one lives unto himself. We affect others both by what we do and what we don’t do; what we believe and what we don’t believe; what we say and what we don’t say. We want to be a conduit of Your grace and mercy to others along life’s way even as we speak the truth in love. We don’t want to bring them down but lift them up in refreshing ways so that they are strengthened and encouraged by our presence. There will always be those who tear down but we want to build up others according to their need. With Your help, Father, we can be a blessing to those You bring in our path. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A prayer for Nashville Covenant School: Father, our hearts are heavy and deeply grieved at the mass killings of three children and three staff members of the Covenant Christian school. We cry out, Lord, send a mighty move of Your Holy Spirit to turn the tide of evil so pervasive in our culture today. How we pray for the comforting presence of Your Spirit to minister to the hearts of family members, church members, the church and school leadership, and the community at large who look to You for comfort, guidance and any opportunity to turn Satan's evil plot into Your plan for the redemption of souls. We pray that You will enable family members, school administration, church officials and the church body, right in the midst of their devastating loss, to present the all-surpassing and sustaining power we have in Christ through such grievous and unjust circumstances; that we, as believers, are greatly comforted in knowing that these precious loved ones are in Your presence. Yet You are close to us as well, beginning the healing process of mending the broken hearts and binding up their wounds. We entrust them to Your loving and tender care. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"There is Hope" Click to listen on YouTube CityAlight

You never know what you will find at Tractor Supply! These make me think of our friend Joe, who works in marketing at a company we served for many years as chaplains that manufactures equipment for the chicken houses. He bought one of these for the office lobby. Upon entering, you sure can't miss it! For the price tag it should include a very realistic recording of "Cock-a-doodle-doo" set to a timer that goes off at 6 am everyday! If it goes on clearance this fall I might buy one for our living room if that's OK with Brooksyne! (It won't be)

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