Dear Family,

Today is Monday, April 28, 2025. This is Day 2 of Week 3 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 16th day of Counting.

During their stay at Elim the children of Israel rested and were refreshed. The Sabbath itself is a time of refreshing, and Scripture says God Himself rested and was refreshed. That is an amazing statement about God.

Exodus 31:17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.

The Bible mentions times of refreshing in Acts 3:19, also.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

What does, “times of refreshing” mean? The dictionary shows that “refreshing” is used in a number of different ways. To “refresh” means to reinvigorate or energize, to stimulate, to restore, to revive, or to cheer.

We have all experienced special seasons in our lives when God has refreshed us. It may be our special refreshing followed a time of great trial and testing as it did for Israel when they were tested and proved at Marah. However, the Bible also portrays our Savior as the refreshing water of life. And, we always have access to this Fountain. And, we can always be refreshed by being in God’s presence, even during times of trials and testing.

Among its many benefits, being in His presence continually gives us the promise of answered prayer.

John 15:7 If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

May God bless each one of us with a moment-by-moment awareness of being in God’s presence. May we abide with Him. May we be constantly refreshed by this relationship.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God