By Pastor Andrew Farland
I’m convinced that one of the biggest tools the enemy uses against God’s people is selfishness.
Why? Because when we’re self-focused, we miss everything going on around us: the neighbor in need, the friend with anxiety, the family member who needs prayer. When we focus too much on ourselves, we can even miss the divine appointments God has set up for us.
Honestly, the most difficult time to focus on others is when we’re tired or we feel like our tank is empty. After all, we can’t fill someone else’s tank when we are running on “E.”
Do you feel like your running on empty?
I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news, but fatigue is just a lame excuse! When you are connected to God, you can reach into His tank, when yours is empty, and bless the people around you.
God has put something inside each and every one of you to give away. Ask yourselves what gifts, talents, skills, and passions you have that you could use for the benefit of others? They are the very things placed within you by God and He will give you the energy to use them.
In Psalm 37:34,
David gave us the two prescriptions for getting through those seasons when our tanks are empty when he wrote “Hope in the Lord and keep His way.” In other words, trust God and do good.
Do your best today to fight against selfishness by trusting God and finding ways to serve. Keep the blinders off of your eyes so that you can see the needs around you. And, if your tank is empty, lean into the gifts that God has given you to bless other people.
He will no doubt give you the strength to build others up.
Luke 10:27
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Be encouraged today because God is with you.
