Showing Kindness

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 18:04:34 +0000

John was a successful businessman whose wife was suffering from depression. “She spends most mornings in bed, and in the afternoons, she just sits around the house,” he said. “She seems to have no ambition. She doesn’t have the energy to cook, and many nights she doesn’t eat with us. She has lost forty pounds over the last year. To be truthful, life is pretty miserable at our house. I feel sorry for the kids, although they get more attention than I do. But I know they must wonder what is wrong with their mother.”

What John described matches some fo the classic characteristics of depression. Unfortunately, depression is quite common and does not go away simply with the passing of time. John’s wife needed medical and psychological help – without it, things would get even worse.

Many Christians don’t understand depression and think it is only a spiritual problem. While it may have a spiritual dimension, it is often rooted in physical and emotional imbalance. If this is an issue for you or your loved one, remember Psalm 34:18. The Bible promises that the Lord has compassion for you and deals tenderly with you in your time of depression.

Take time to pray, asking God…

To help you be aware of difficult and dark emotions;

To help you recognize and properly respond to warning signs of depression.

If you have more time, discuss together or reflect on these questions:

What is (or has been) your attitude toward those who struggle with depression?

Have you ever wondered if you or your spouse may suffer from depression?

If you or your spouse struggle with depression, what help are you willing to explore?

Consider these passages for further study on depression:

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Kindness in your Heart?

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 18:39:36 +0000

David, the king of Israel, is described as a man after God’s own heart. In 2 Samuel 9:1-13, we see that at the center of David’s God-honoring heart was kindness. If we aspire to the kind of reputation David had, we put kindness in the center of our hearts.

We hear a lot about “random acts of kindness, “ but what if kindness is seeing the needs of others and reaching out to help? The first step in developing kindness is to recognize the acts of kindness that surround us each day.

The wife or husband who fixes coffee for the other has performed an act of kindness. The person who makes up the bed, cleans the commode, mows the grass, or changes the baby’s diaper is expressing kindness. The coworker who offers to help in getting your computer to function is being kind. If we could rediscover kindness as a way of life, we would enrich the lives of all we encounter.

Take time to pray to ask God to open your eyes to the kindness all around you. When He does, give thanks for it. Ask to help you become a source of kindness for your spouse, your family, your coworkers, your neighbors, as well as casual acquaintances and perfect strangers.

Take time to reflect on these questions:

How many random acts of kindness have you experienced today?

How many of those acts did you acknowledge or give thanks for?

What will be your first step in making kindness a way of life?

Consider these passages for further study on kindness.

Proverbs 11:17 Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.

Luke 6:35 Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

Ephesians 4:32 Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God though Christ has forgiven you.

Your kindness will show with your love for Christ. Sometimes it takes courage to show and do kind things to others. Follow examples and live a lifestyle of Why not? Be a blessing to others.

1 Peter 3:8-12. To sum up, app of you be harmonious, tender-hearted, and keep a humbling attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.

2 Samuel 9:1-13

“David asked, “Is anyone still left in Saul’s family? I want to show kindness to that person for Jonathan’s sake!” Now there was a servant named Ziba from Saul’s family. So David’s servants called Ziba to him. King David said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He answered, “Yes, I am your servant.” The king asked, “Is anyone left in Saul’s family? I want to show God’s kindness to that person.” Ziba answered the king, “Jonathan has a son still living who is crippled in both feet.” The king asked Ziba, “Where is this son?” Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” Then King David had servants bring Jonathan’s son from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar. Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, came before David and bowed facedown on the floor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” Mephibosheth said, “I am your servant.” David said to him, “Don’t be afraid. I will be kind to you for your father Jonathan’s sake. I will give you back all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Mephibosheth bowed to David again and said, “You are being very kind to me, your servant! And I am no better than a dead dog!” Then King David called Saul’s servant Ziba. David said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You, your sons, and your servants will farm the land and harvest the crops. Then your family will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) Ziba said to King David, “I, your servant, will do everything my master, the king, commands me.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as if he were one of the king’s sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. Everyone in Ziba’s family became Mephibosheth’s servants. Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table. And he was crippled in both feet.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭NCV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/105/2sa.9.1-13.NCV

Great thoughts of Gary Chapman with more verses and inspiration from John Kilgore.

kindness – Alecia Stringer’s Devotionals

Showing Kindness

Kindness in your Heart?