The Mirror of the Word by C.E. White can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Word-Devotions-Reveal-Refine/dp/B0DFZS83C7  To learn more about this author and other words, visit https://cewhitebooks.com/

“For I have had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.”

—Philemon 1:7

What do others experience in our presence? If we’re living out the Word, the Holy Spirit will overflow through us to others. Other believers will recognize the Spirit and leave us feeling joy, comfort, love, and refreshment.

But there are times we drink from the wrong well, and what flows from us becomes tainted. A good way to check this is to consider what effect we’re having on fellow believers.

Is it joy, comfort, refreshment, and renewal?

Or is it negativity, stress, and exhaustion?

Do they leave us feeling lighter, encouraged, hopeful, edified, and loved, or do they leave feeling down, fearful, frustrated, anxious, or unseen?

If our own lives are pulling from the wrong source, we need to dig in to discover what well we’re drinking from. It may be the well of self–interest, arrogance, fear, fault–finding, complaint, anger, or a wealth of other worldly possibilities.

If we’re pulling from broken cisterns that cannot hold water (Jeremiah 2:13) and cannot satisfy, what’s missing in our own hearts will be missing from our interactions with others, and what they drink from our presence won’t be very refreshing.

But if we quench our thirst with the living water of Jesus and the Word, allowing him to transform us as we study, grow, and obey, what we leave others with will always be joy, comfort, love, and refreshment.

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