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, or 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, or 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 His life
where there has been death and to bless those who are downtrodden and hurting
with the healing presence of Jesus Christ.
Mold
my life, Lord, into one that is not about me. I long to see with your eyes,
hear with your ears, and understand with your Spirit in order to help others
realize their potential in you. I pray that I put another life before my own. I
pray that I always love and encourage with His grace and truth. May I never let
go of believing in your promise for someone else! I pray that my life becomes broken and spilled
out as yours was broken and spilled out for me.
© 2017 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com
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