Acts of unforeseen benevolence

"As the chosen ones of God, holy and beloved, put on the bowels of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience." Colossians 3.12

A reporter was interviewing people whose homes had been destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. An interesting theme emerged. Everyone said that, although he did not know his neighbor before the storm, they had since become friends. All this happened when they helped each other when they could. They gave themselves water, helped each other to clear the debris, and supervised the children. A woman who had never even taken the time to make her own meals before the storm ended up preparing dinner for twenty-five neighbors in her house because she was the only one to have a gas cooker in working condition!

Keep your eyes and your hearts open with regard to those you meet every day.

Sometimes the tragedy brings out the best of ourselves. We can become very generous when the need is desperate and obvious. But we must remember that there are people all around us who are facing the desperate storms of life, and that their needs may not be as easy to see. Maybe we need to look a little closer to see how much they are suffering, and then decide how we can help them.

Keep your eyes and your hearts open with regard to those you meet every day. Begin to focus on how you can be blessed for others. Perhaps it is as simple as saying a benevolent word, or shopping for someone. Look for opportunities to perform "unforeseen acts of benevolence" ; They are expressions of the love of God for the world. One thing is certain, and that is that when we meet the needs of others, God meets all our own needs in a way you can not even imagine !

A prayer for today

Father, open my eyes to see all those who suffer all around me. I am your ambassador and there is a lot of work to do! In times of tragedy or peace, put before me the people who need to experience your love, so that I may become a blessing for their lives. I pray thee in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Joël Osteen

Source (The Thought of the Day)