Compassion Demonstrates God’s Love

Do you remember having ‘one of those days’ where everything was just annoying you and if someone was to even look at you the wrong way, you were totally going to blow?

As I was doing a spring summer clean out, I came across a journal entry from 2013 and I was obviously having one of those days. Here is the entry:

“I had just arrived home after a morning gone wrong. My selfishness had kicked in big time and I had a massive temper tantrum. I know. Pathetic. I was very ashamed of myself.

There was now a house alarm blaring a few houses up from us (it wasn’t the first time) and I just couldn’t bare another noise. It was so loud! I prayed, or rather demanded, that God turn it off. Of course, He didn’t answer. Why should He?

I looked out the window toward the house and saw the mum and her small child. Immediately compassion arose. I remembered that she suffered with Bi-polar disease, a debilitating mental illness, and I tried to put myself in her shoes. I thought how the alarm might be stressing her and it might be upsetting both her and her child.

I prayed again but this time, I prayed that Holy Spirit would bring peace to their home, that the warring angels would protect them and that God, in His mercy for THEM, would turn the alarm off.

Guess what? Instantly the alarm stopped. My selfishness had turned outward to compassion and my prayer was answered.”

How To Pray For Our Enemies

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you …”   Matthew 55:44 (ESV)

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you …”   Luke 6:27 (ESV)

I had realised that this is one way that we can pray for our enemies.

We pray:

• The blood of Jesus to cover them and their families
• That God would meet their needs
• That God would draw them to Himself and reveal Jesus to them
• That Holy Spirit would bring peace and comfort to them
• We can ask the Lord how we can show our enemies kindness, which can be the first sign of God’s love

God is a good God and He sees things and situations in ways that we can’t even imagine.

Do you have someone in your life that is very difficult to love, or to even think about? I do. Might I challenge you to ask Jesus to show you one thing that He delights in about them. Remember, God sees everything. You never know what is going on behind the scenes.

What are some ways that you can show compassion today? I would love to read them so please post in the comments below.

Remember that during the month of January, we have having a “Thanksgiving Month” over on Facebook. It would be great if you would join us.

Many blessings to you.

(Photo credit: www.pexels.com)