Beautiful Word Devotional #323

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 103:8

How could we not love, follow, and serve such a God!

May we love him by extending to others the kind of compassion and grace, patience and love that he extends to us! And may we treat ourselves with those life-giving traits as well.

First, though, how well are you reflecting God on these four points? Whom are you blessing with compassion and grace? With patience? With love? Or whom could you be blessing? Ask God not only to show you but also to empower you.

Second, how well are you treating yourself? God is compassionate and gracious toward us, but we can be ruthless to ourselves. We might show others compassion, but we criticize ourselves: You should have known better. You’ll never overcome this. You’re stupid. We are unkind and angry with ourselves, impatient and unloving. Yet Jesus has commanded us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Are your neighbors in trouble?

Lord, teach me to be kind, compassionate, gracious, patient, and loving to myself so that I may better love others, amen.