Therefore if you have any
encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if
any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make
my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit
and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in
humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but
each of you to the interests of the others.
—Philippians 2:2–4 (NIV)
Is my life one of promise? Do I offer hope? Do I encourage
others when they are unable to encourage themselves? Am I sensitive to someone
else’s pain? Do I unconsciously throw fuel on the fire of their pain with casual
words that have not been inspired by God? Do I put the needs of others before
my own? Do I find a way to just do enough? In my words or actions, I speak
either encouragement or defeat to another person. I speak life or death to
another heart.
As much as we might like it to be, His life in us is not
about what we want or how we might prosper. It is all about what He desires for
us to sacrificially become for the sake of someone else. His desire is for me to
love others as He loves me—and tenderly and compassionately give my life away
while expecting nothing in return. Freely He gave. Freely I should give. He
desires for me to encourage and speak life where there has been death and to
bless those who are downtrodden and hurting with the healing presence of Jesus
Christ.
I pray that He molds my life into one that is not about me. I
pray that I always see with His eyes, hear with His ears, and understand with
His Spirit in order to help others realize their potential in Him. I pray that
I put another life before my own. I pray that I always love and encourage with
His grace and truth. I pray that I never let go of believing in His promise for
someone else. I pray that my life becomes broken and spilled out as He was
broken and spilled out for me.
I want no masks that veil my heart. Revival of the heart
never holds back. It is always seen in loving action. May I bring Him joy by
encouraging with the love and grace He has brought to me.
—Form Me, Fire Me, Fill Me, page
151
© 2017 Lynn Lacher
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