Good Morning: A Minimal Devotional.

Day 11 of 31 Days:

Generosity

Good morning.

Being generous is so much more than giving an offering at church. This is a way of life. Giving is a by-product of gratitude. It’s an overflow of a cheerful heart. It’s a result of love. Love gives (John 3:16).

Generosity isn’t always a monetary thing. It could be our wisdom, our encouragement, our kind words, our actions, or other resources. When we are generous, we reflect Jesus, and to reflect Him is to heal hearts (sometimes our own). In a selfish, greedy, narcissistic society, we must be this example and give. And remember, we can’t out-give God. He is our supply. If He can get it through us, He’ll get it to us.

How could you be generous to someone that you’ve texted in the last 48 hours?

Proverbs 11:25King James Version

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Good Morning: A Minimal Devotional

Day 10 of 31 Days:

Servant Leadership

Good morning.

I assume we can agree on the point that Jesus was simultaneously the greatest leader and servant while He lived on Earth. I don’t believe that to be coincidence. The more we empty, the more we are fulfilled. We were created to serve. The more we serve, the more trust and influence we’ll have with others, and therefore, the more effective and impactful our leadership will be.

More than anything, people care about how much we care. I know that society has made leadership about surface-level matters and personal status, but it’s about the Kingdom. Kingdom matters tend to be “upside down” from that we’re used to. Case in point: Positional leadership is for the benefit of self but servant leadership is always for the benefit of others. Kingdom leadership is not about gaining more followers, but rather serving people and developing other leaders.

What is one way you could serve someone today?

Mark 10:45King James Version

45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Good Morning: A Minimal Devotional.

Day 9 of 31 Days:

Character

Good morning.

It’s said that character is who you are when no one is looking. This means that it’s an organic overflow of who we truly are, not who we perform as for attention’s sake. What’s within a person is the sustaining and excelling factor of life. We strengthen our character by spending time with the Lord.

There are often external pressures from two things. The first is life’s circumstances—things like expectations, trouble, conflict, etc. The second are skills that you’re gifted with. Yes, our giftings are a matter that we need to steward well.

We must be sure that what’s on the inside can always sustain what’s on the outside. This is how sinkholes occur. We build cities on top of what is or soon to be a vulnerable area, and it’s only a matter of time before it caves.

What is one area of your character that you’ll be proactive about today?

Galatians 5:22-23King James Version

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.