DAY TEN: Thursday
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil. 2:1-4 ESV)
I’ve tried to give you more than you can handle. I’ve tried to overload you with my encouragement. Overwhelm you with my love. Overfill you with my Spirit. Overcome you with my affection.
I’ve emptied my heart into yours. I’ve withdrawn everything from my account and signed it over into your account. My riches are yours. My resources are yours. I am yours.
And one of the reasons I’ve done this is so that you’ll finally be freed from trying to take from others. Taking their applause. Taking their spotlight. Taking their time. Taking their energy. Taking what’s rightfully theirs.
It seems like there’s always just one more thing you’d like to get. You want to get your way on that project. You want to get the final word in that conflict. You want to get that promotion. That starting position on the team. That boy. That girl.
These aren’t necessarily bad things. But sometimes you seem to act as if you need them. You can’t be happy without them. And it leads you to act as if what you want is all that really matters. You end up running over others. You neglect their feelings. Their wishes. Their wants.
But I’ve freed you from that. I’ve filled you to overflowing. I’ve anticipated what you truly need and what you truly want. And I’ve already delivered it.
So today, stop for just a moment. Count your many blessings. Name them one by one. You may be surprised at just how much I’ve done.
And with that accounting in mind, turn to those around you today, and take yourself out of the center. Ask them, “What do you need today? What do you want today? And how can I help you get it?”
With love,
Father
