One part of  having the mind of Christ is being there for others.

A Prayer For Strength To Serve

Lord have mercy on me when I grow weary and feel down.

Refresh me that I may help others all around.

May I in You always be found praying for strength and solid ground.

Help me to be loving and to not turn away.

Help me to meet the needs of those around me day after day.

Help them all to see the help truly come from You and not me I pray.

Lord deliver me from my flesh and selfish mind.

Don't allow them to respond with words or deeds unkind.

Cause me to have Your heart and mind.

Lord use me and make me completely thyne.

Being There

On the way to someone's house have you ever whispered be there ? Or called someone and while waiting for them to pick up whispered just be there? Or have you ever told someone you better be there? Or invited someone to please be there? Today I was learning that one of the parts of the mind of Christ I can have is being there for others.  I am not going to just sit home and wait for the phone to ring or for someone to come knocking on my door. But I will give my full attention to being there for whom ever I am around at the moment. And When I find out someone called or came by and needed me I will get in contact with them as quick as I can. When someone say that I better be there or invites me to be there for them, I will do all I can to be there. So? you say. Well you see I use to hide when I would see people coming because I didn't want to get roped into doing something. If someone called I screened the call for the same reason. If  I got told I had better be there, I usually didn't show up because of a little rebellious spirit in me; and I knew I was invited because they wanted me to do something. And if  I was asked to please be there I went because I knew I would feel guilty if  I didn't go; so when I went I wasn't a happy camper. Jesus has always been there for me. He has never let me down or failed me. He has always done what's best for me with my best interest at heart. He didn't go off skipping gleefully to the cross for me but He still went. And His journey to the cross was far from convenient or comfortable for Him but He still went. So bottom line for me to have the mind of Christ or at least this part of His mind. I need to tell self to get out of my way so I can be there for others. Because who stops me from being there for others but myself. (selfishness) Am I afraid of getting burned out? No because I will rest when God (not me) says rest and I trust Him to refresh me. When I rest does that mean I am not being there for someone? Yes, but no longer for a selfish reason. If God tells me to rest it is so I can continue to be there when needed. Should I feel guilty when someone needs me and I say no because I need to rest? No because God has told me to rest and I trust Him to provide for them. After all it is not me who does the good work, but Him who does the good work in and through me. How will I know I know if God is telling me to rest? I know His voice and He let's me know when things are right or wrong and He let's me know if  I am taking on more than I can handle by how well I am handling things.

But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said 'son, go, work today in my vineyard'. "He answered and said, 'I will not, but afterward he regretted it and went. "Then he came to the second and said likewise. and he answered and said, 'I go sir,' but he did not go. "Which of the two did the will of his father?" Matthew 21:28-31, And whoever compels you to go with him one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Matthew 5:41-42, And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31, The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; Psalm 23:1-3

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