“Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.” Philemon 1:7
In this very short letter, Paul admonishes Philemon for his love for other believers. He finds great encouragement from seeing his love. One of the things that Philemon did was refresh the hearts of the people.
It is very common for people to walk around with heavy hearts. There are concerns that they have that weigh them down. Another word for concern is often worry. For some people those concerns are personal. Some of those things how are they going: to pay a bill; fix a vehicle; get a job; mend a relationship; stop a bad habit; and many other concerns.
For others it is concerns for others. Such as: health of someone; care for someone; bad habits in another person; another’s finances; and many other cares and concerns.
Going through the trials of life, people tend to have a heavy heart loaded with all of the cares and concerns. They want joy and peace, but are unsure as to how to get it.
Philemon would refresh their hearts. He may have spoken a good word to them to encourage them. He may have provided a hand in helping them out. He may have provided some money to meet a need. He may have just given them a hug and told them that he loved them.
People need to hear that you care and love them, and that God also loves them. They also need to hear that they are not alone in this world. Both you and God can be there for them. This will encourage a person and lift them up.
Are you refreshing the hearts of people around you?
Or do you keep them down by casting all of your cares and concerns on them? Do you always see the negative in things?
Seek God to help you refresh the hearts of the people you meet. Be an encouragement and help, not a hindrance. Allow God to use you to build someone up, instead of tearing them down. Refresh the heart of someone today.
I pray today that God will refresh your heart for Him; that God will show you ways to refresh the hearts of others; that you will bring encouragement and joy to others; and that God will draw many to Jesus through you.
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