Last night we had a Leadership Team meeting to think, plan and pray through this next season of church life. I am so thankful for this team of 3 - for all of the support, wisdom and encouragement they bring to me personally, and to us all as a church body. I am reminded of the story in Exodus 17 where the Israelites are going up against the Amelekites. It says in verse 11: "As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning." It was pretty important therefore that their leader kept his hands up in the air! The problem was this: "...Moses’ hands grew tired..." (v. 12) We all grow tired, we all get weary. Even the great Moses in his position of leadership simply couldn't succeed on his own. And so we read: "Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset." (v. 12) As I reflected on this I thought to myself: Aaron's and Hur's own arms must also have got sore holding up Moses' arms all day long. And yet they saw past their own tiredness and needs to the bigger picture of seeing God's people move into their destiny.
We all need people to hold our arms up now and again. When we get tired or discouraged, we need those who will support us, encourage us, stand with us, pray for us. But we should also be a church of 'arm holders'. As we look around us, we can ask: 'Who needs a word of encouragement?' 'Who needs my prayers?' 'Who needs an arm around their shoulder?' The Christian life is not for 'lone rangers'. We need each other. And so where you are, right now think about these 2 questions: 'Who holds my arms up?' Thank God for them. And: 'Whose arms can I hold up?' Look out for them.
I pray this week that you would be both refreshed and be a 'refresher' to others.
