In today’s devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef encourages us to practice kindness as a fruit of the Spirit and a means of restoring our souls.
If you would like more insight into today’s devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon The Spirituality That Heals, Part 5: LISTEN NOW
[00:00:00] You are listening to MY Devotional, the Daily Devotional from Dr. Michael Youssef and Leading The Way.
[00:00:07] Exercising Kindness by Dr. Michael Youssef In addition to exhibiting empathy
[00:00:16] and showing kindness to yourself and others, in order to fully embrace kindness you must let go of hatred, bitterness and resentment.
[00:00:24] If you allow a relationship to deteriorate because of resentment, you will find it difficult to express a kind word or make a kind gesture to that person.
[00:00:34] But by practicing kindness and praying for that person even if you don't feel like it, you will help heal that relationship.
[00:00:42] As you let go of bitterness and ill will toward a person, you will grow in loving kindness, finding freedom and forgiveness and humility.
[00:00:51] Showing kindness to others won't always be easy. You may face rejection or you may need to spend significant amounts of your time or resources, but showing kindness is not only a fruit of the spirit.
[00:01:03] It will also restore your soul. It banishes hatred and gives room for love to take root. Set aside your own agenda and your fear of rejection and exercise the kindness of the Holy Spirit.
[00:01:18] Today as you spend time with God in prayer, ask him to show you the areas in your life that you're holding back from experiencing kindness.
[00:01:26] Do you find yourself judging instead of empathizing with others when they're in need or have failed?
[00:01:32] Is there a past sin in your own life for which you haven't allowed God to forgive you?
[00:01:37] Whatever the reason, ask for God's strength to enable you to overcome these obstacles and begin to pray regularly for the Holy Spirit to prompt you daily to show kindness to others.
[00:01:51] Let's pray together.
[00:01:53] Father, help us to overcome the obstacles that are keeping us from exercising kindness. We pray that your spirit would prompt us to show kindness to those around us today.
[00:02:03] We pray this in the name of Jesus, amen.
[00:02:07] The verse to think about today for St. Sallonean's 5, verse 15, make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
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