Listen
“Let us consider together how to encourage each other on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24
Reflect
Have you ever noticed that every glance, every sigh, every inflection of voice, every gesture, and every word, is communicating emotion? Whether your communication is verbal or nonverbal, or if it is brought on by fatigue, anger, fear, joy, thanks, love, surprise, or just silence; you are communicating a message. Most of the time it goes unnoticed by you, but those around you will pick up on it quickly. Your mere presence will communicate a page full of information.
This past week, I tried a one day experiment. I made a real effort to be kind in word and deed to those I came in contact. That particular day, I met clerks at the pharmacy and grocery store, my husband, my mother, plus interactions with friends and family via emails and texts. The responses back from those interactions that day where unanimously positive. I was positive with them, so in turn, their response was positive back to me. I had influenced them. I pray that my positive conversation influenced them to behave the same throughout that day. The recently popular phrase of “Paying it Forward,” has a lot of merit. It works.
Jesus calls for us to be influencers by “loving our neighbor as ourselves.” I agree, this is not always easy, but it is definitely worth the effort. Who more in the whole world do you desire to serve well? Jesus. How do you do this? Through love. Let us love well, let our words and deeds influence others, so that His love would be made known throughout the nations!
Prayer of Response
“Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for my friends, family, and those who serve with me in my community. I pray that through your Holy Spirit living in me, I might be a positive influencer of your love and care. Thank you for the forgiveness you have poured out on me when I have failed to be a person of peace. Thank you too, for your love that extends mercy to us all. Amen.”
—Submitted by Danielle Hathaway
(Danielle lives with her husband Carl in Santa Maria, California. She has served as the Lifesprings Connect team leader for over ten years.)
Leave a Reply