I would love for you to think about adding and/or reengaging these attributes into your life. As a Christ follower we are called to live differently. The world should look at us and see a difference. Not the type of difference that says we are better than them, but they should see the type of difference that says “I’m no different than you, and that I live for an eternal purpose not a temporal one”. I strive to really make this list a part of my life everyday.
- Be Kind – Ephsians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Just think about how your relationships would change if you would intentionally look for ways to show kindness. Think about the lives you could change. Maybe it’s with the kid who sits alone at lunch or the kid who is mentally ill. Being kind goes a long way for people who are not use to be being kind to them.
- Forgive – Colosians 3:13 Bear with each other andforgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Life is too short to waste any time being bitter about anything. You can choose to be bitter or you can choose to forgive. It’s your choice. Now, that doesn’t mean the hurt will go away over night, but once you take that step to forgive you begin the process of releasing the hurt and rejecting bitterness.
- Be Honest – Proverbs 22:12 The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. This verse should not be a surprise to us. No one likes being around a dishonest person. I would rather have someone who will tell me the truth even if it may not be what I want to hear. Real friends will tell you what you need to hear. If your friends agreed with you 100% of the time, I would really question the authenticity of the relationship. It gives me peace to know that I have friends who will be honest with me no matter what.
- Be Thoughtful – Hebrews 10:24 We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. This is a trait that separates you from a lot of other people. By nature, we are all about ourselves and what we can do to get ahead. By nature, when we are thoughtful it’s in our best interest and not others. If you feel like your life has been all about you, start being thoughtful. Be thoughtful towards people you don’t know, and be thoughtful towards people who might not be expecting you to be thoughtful. That’s where real change takes place. A thoughtful deed can be as simple as opening the door for someone or bringing an extra water bottle to practice just in case someone is without. Other acts can include making sure your words are lifting people up instead of tearing people down.
I could add a million more but I believe these 4 things are what we lack the most of and if we could be more intentional in these areas we could change lives in a practical way. What I had to learn was that this is a day by day decision that we must make to apply these things to your life. So think about adding and/or reengaging these attributes into your life this year day by day.
hope it helps
ac