“Refresh my heart in Christ” Philemon 1:20
Heavenly Father, what a magnificent paradigm for friendship—learning to refresh each other’s hearts with the truth, grace, peace, and hope we have in Jesus. Brilliant, so needed… help us.
The Apostle Paul asked for this gift from his friend, Philemon, in anticipation of an impending visit. We ask it of you, Father, well before we enter our world of horizontal relationships. For the only reason we know Jesus is because you were pleased to hide our lives in Christ (Col. 3:1-4) and raise us to newness of life in him (Rom. 6:4).
So, Father—by the power of the Holy Spirit, refresh our hearts in Jesus. Remind us of every good thing we have through our union with Christ. And make it a lot more than a good theology lesson. Make it like the day you wooed both of your disconnected children onto the dance floor of your welcome, joy, mercy, and grace (Luke 15:11-31).
Like an artesian spring of living water, bringing refreshment into our various deserts. Like a stretch of 72-degree, 25% humidity, rich-blue-sky days, breaking a long stretch of smoky/hazy, 93-degree, 80% humidity days—renew, refresh, re-free our hearts in Jesus.
And as you do, enable us to serve our friends as an extension of your welcome, conduits of your grace, channels of your kindness, well-timed gifts of encouragement and hope. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ powerful and loving name.