How Are We Empowered to Do God's Work?

A crisis doesn’t usually happen without some advanced warning. A prelude to a health crisis is often pain at some level. Relationship troubles usually evolve over time as a warning that changes need to be made.

A series of events that determine the future can be the introduction to possible trouble ahead for a person or a relationship. On a positive note, indications of trouble can be the time for making corrective changes to intercept possible trouble. It’s comforting to know that God observes with compassion each person’s pain and potential suffering.

His Word assures us he knows our sorrow and opens his heart to those who seek comfort and healing. One gift God offers us is strength to endure trouble that’s unavoidable. 

Our part is to activate changes the Holy Spirit empowers us to make. Christ Jesus is honored as we comply.  

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Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!

~Hebrews 4:15  Contemporary English Version

 

…I, the Lord All-Powerful, will be here to help you with the work… Don’t worry. My Spirit is right here with you.

~Haggai 2:4-5 Contemporary English Version

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On Saturday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs will be posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

Is It Possible to Make Compassion a Core Value?

In our society, compassion is difficult to practice. On the other hand, frustration, anger, and resentment seem to conform easily to stress that’s ever present as we rush to complete our things-to-do and places-to-be. Resentment derives from perceiving ourselves as caught in a trap, pursuing whatever makes us happy.

Children can be so caught up in after-school and weekend activities that time to rest and play are canceled out. I’m not thinking specifically about sports but about whatever is loaded with competition to win. Perhaps this isn’t your situation, but guard against relegating compassion to the bottom of your list.

To regain compassion, begin with making it your core value. Compassion is a virtue, a treasure to seek and to give each day. 

Listen to Colossians 3:12: “Clothe yourselves with compassion, humility, kindness, gentleness, and patience.” Do this as carefully as you would clothe yourself for a special occasion.  

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And God? Compassionate! Forgave the sin! Didn’t destroy! Over and over he reined in his anger, restrained his considerable wrath.  

~Psalm 78:38 The Message

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Finding Comfort in Hope

It would be regrettable for a person to go through life and never experience grief and sadness because that person would never know what it means to be comforted. Jesus acknowledged, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." Isaiah identified Jesus as "a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief."

Jesus experienced great sorrow as he faced what lay in store for him on the cross. Yet it is difficult for us to heal from grief when memories of great loss keep surfacing. Jeremiah endorsed this truth but confirmed that hope and comfort are also available.

Listen to Jeremiah's words. "When I remember my affliction and bitterness my soul is downcast. Yet, then I remember the Lord’s great love and I have hope because I am not crushed. His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness." When memories of the past renew sorrow and grief in you, quickly recall the compassion God extends to you through Christ Jesus and rejoice.  

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Remember your promise to me, your servant; it has given me hope. Even in my suffering I was comforted, [Lord], because your promise gave me life.

~Psalm 119:49-50 Good News Bible

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.