The Life That Refreshes

By Dan Nowalk

Director of Hospitality & Membership

Proverbs 11:25
“The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.”

Proverbs presents generosity as a paradox. Those who give freely are not depleted; they are refreshed. The wisdom of Scripture tells us that God has woven this principle into the fabric of life itself.

This is not a promise of guaranteed outcomes or instant results. Generosity is not a transaction. It is a posture of trust. When we open our hands to bless others, we place ourselves in the stream of God’s provision rather than trying to control it.

Refreshing others often looks ordinary. It may be listening when someone is weary, offering encouragement when hope is thin, meeting a practical need, or giving when it stretches us. These acts rarely draw attention, but God notices every one of them.

The moments that cost us the most are often the very moments God uses to bring the greatest life. As we water others, God faithfully waters us in ways we could not manufacture on our own.

Generosity shifts our focus from self to kingdom. What we have is not merely for us. God uses open hands to bring refreshment — both to those we serve and to our own hearts.

Something to Pray
“Lord, make me a person who refreshes others. Open my eyes to those who are weary, overlooked, or burdened. Teach me to live generously with my time, my words, and my resources, trusting that as I pour out, You will faithfully refresh me. Amen.”

Something to Do
Today, be intentional about refreshing one person.
• Send a meaningful word of encouragement.
• Give your full attention to someone who needs to talk.
• Meet a practical need.
• Speak life where discouragement has taken root.
• Give quietly, without seeking recognition.