A Fresh Heart

“He went over all the old ground, traveling from place to place through Galatia and Phrygia, putting fresh heart into the disciples.” Acts 18:23 (MSG)

Paul didn’t just plant churches, he revisited them. He didn’t only inspire; he also re-inspired. The Message version says he went “putting fresh heart into the disciples.” What a beautiful picture of leadership. Paul knew something we often forget: even the best people lose heart sometimes.

And that’s not failure, it’s human.

Even your strongest, most committed team members will have seasons where their hearts grow tired. Here’s why:

• Fatigue — Long stretches of serving without rest can drain even the most passionate soul.

• Frustration — Effort without visible results can quietly erode motivation.

• Familiarity — When things become routine, they can lose their sense of wonder and purpose.

• Failure — Mistakes or setbacks can cause discouragement or shame.

• Feeling unseen — Serving without affirmation can make people feel invisible.

Leaders often notice the symptoms (apathy, inconsistency, pulling back), but forget that what’s really needed isn’t just correction, it’s a fresh heart.

Putting fresh heart doesn’t mean giving a hype speech or forcing positivity. It means reviving the soul of someone who’s grown weary. It’s not about pushing harder; it’s about breathing life back in.

Paul didn’t wait until things were falling apart. He regularly circled back to encourage, affirm, and realign his people. That’s wise leadership.

Practical ways to put fresh heart into your team:

• Speak life intentionally
  Don’t assume people know you value them, say it. Be specific. Call out the gold you see in them.

• Remind them of the why
  Reconnect them to the mission. Vision fuels passion. When people see the “why,” they endure the “what.”

• Celebrate small wins
  What you celebrate gets repeated. Point out progress, not just perfection.

• Make space for rest
  Sometimes the most spiritual thing someone can do is take a nap. Protect their margin.

• Be present, not just productive
  People don’t just need tasks, they need to know they matter more than what they do. Slow down enough to see them.

• Share stories of impact
  Remind them how their work is changing lives. Nothing refreshes like seeing fruit.

Paul could have kept pressing forward, but he chose to circle back. He paused his forward momentum to invest in the hearts of others. Leaders, your presence carries power. Your words carry weight. Your encouragement carries life.

The people you lead don’t just need your strategy, they need your shepherd’s heart.
They need fresh heart.

So today, take a moment. Look around.
Who might be running on empty… and just needs you to pause, look them in the eye, and put fresh heart back in?