Romans 15:2 We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord.
Romans 14:7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.
I was listening to Lauren Daigle sing “You Say” the other day and it reminded me of when she sang it on “Dancing with the Stars”. It was season 27, week 9 if you want to watch. What really struck me was how people were being touched in their hearts by the Father as she sang. You could see their expressions change! It’s a reminder that He loves and cares for all of us, and we need to say what He says. We need to get out of our “me” focus and look for others that need Life spoken into their hearts.
Psalm 142:7 Bring me out of prison so I can thank You. The godly will crowd around me, for You treat me kindly.
What does my prison look like? It’s thinking only of me; grumbling and complaining; trying to control everything and everyone; being a selfish brat, and staying in my head, or thought life while making myself grumpy. We will never change by focusing on ourselves. We can help ourselves and others by focusing on Him, and He will show us those in our path that need Life spoken to them and help in any additional way.
Matthew 25:35-36 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.
I know a young man that has been told he’s not strong and can’t do this or that, and he hangs his head and won’t look at you when you’re talking with him. However, as I begin to tell him that he’s a wonderful God man, and I see Jesus in him, he stands straighter, lifts his head and looks me in the eye. That’s what speaking Life does! (I capitalize the word on purpose because He is Life and when we say what He says, it’s Life.)
In Acts 16:25-27 Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God while they were in prison. They were just hanging out with Jesus and the doors flew open and the chains fell off of every prisoner. People met Jesus and He set them free! Gazing at Him opens the prison door because we’re focused on Him, not ourselves.
Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.
What does that look like? It looks like Jesus. Let Him flow through you.
1 Corinthians 10:24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom–not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.
Don’t put yourself in prison by focusing on you. Reach out and love others. Help each other in any way you can and speak Life into their hearts as you help them. I was at the grocery store the other day and a woman accidentally ran into some boxes. I helped her pick them up and she said she appreciated me and that she’d had a really rough day. I rubbed her shoulder and told her everything is alright and to have a wonderful evening. She walked away with a spring in her step.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
Isaiah 30:18 But the LORD still waits for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for Him to help them.
Come to Him for help, and then be that help to someone else. Amen.
