And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Hebrews 13:16

Do you remember this verse from our previous spiritual discipline of worship? We touched on worshiping God by doing good in His name and serving others, because we are called to be of service. Every little act of giving and serving pleases God. Just like we should live in an attitude of worship, we should also live in the attitude of a servant. Asking ourselves daily, how can I serve God today, and be a blessing to someone else?

As Christian’s we should find a way each day to do good. This is our opportunity to shine His light through us. Reaching out to others in darkness, and bringing them into the light.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Practicing the spiritual discipline of service is the best way to shine bright! I think it is very important we never forget that we are blessed by God to be a blessing to someone else.

 What is service?

Service by definition is the action of helping or doing work for someone else. Showing kindness and favor to others. Helping, assisting, and aiding those in need.

The desire to serve others is born out of a heart of love and gratitude, it requires humility, strength, and love. It is not so much an act, but truly who we become once accepting and proclaiming Jesus as our savior. We become a servant of the Lord, and therefore we are not only to serve Him, but we are called to be of service to others, especially those in need.

We serve others not to glorify ourselves, but to glorify God’s name.

Selfish people do not serve, because they are to invested in themselves to pour into others. It is important that we have a heart of selflessness, with no expectation of gain when we enter into service. We must lay aside our own agenda’s and place all focus on God and the people we are serving.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Galatians 5:13

We serve others because we love Him. We should never serve for self gain, to make ourselves look good, or to earn His love.  We serve others because He already loves us, and we are commanded to spread His love. Through the spiritual discipline of service, we are able to spread love and light to those in need.

Why is serving important?

Serving others is a true act of humility, and it’s absolutely beautiful. It allows us to discover and develop our spiritual gifts and talents! Through acts of service we will have the opportunity to experience God’s glory first hand. We will experience Him through miracles taking place in others lives as we meet their needs.  Serving others helps us to build relationships with other believers and non believers. When we serve non believers we are able to show them kindness, love, and generosity. Through our good works, they also see who Jesus is. You may be the person that leads someone to Christ, just by taking the time to show them favor and aiding their needs. Never miss an opportunity to serve someone in need, because God has sent you to that individual for a reason. He is using you in that person’s life to make a difference.

To think that God chooses us and uses us to aid Him is such a great honor.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

You will gain something through service to others, and that is joy. When we humbly serve others, out of a heart of pure love, we gain great joy and happiness in our lives. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “It’s better to give than to receive”. Serving on a regular basis also helps mature and strengthen our faith.

What are some ways we can be of service to others?

Ask God each day to show you how you can be of service to Him. Remember Samuel’s words in 1 Samuel 3:10?

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Ask Him to show you where He needs you, the people who need you, and the areas you can make a difference.

Start at home:

It’s as easy as making breakfast for your loved ones. John Chapter 21, shows Jesus making breakfast on the beach for the disciples, showing them love and caring for them. I personally forget at times that by simply caring for my husband and my children I am serving God. By doing laundry, washing dishes, stewarding finances, and keeping our schedules-I am serving God. When I remind myself of this, I often find a greater joy in the mundane task of life. I’m trying to raise good girls who grow to be great women of God. I need to set the example of what a woman who serves God looks like, no pressure right. When I complete acts of service within our own home, they are learning how to serve also. The verse below is powerful, and brought me revelation to how important serving my own household is. We must start serving the people God has already blessed us with, before we take on the outside world. Check out this post and learn how you can perform spiritual warfare in your home by combining prayer and cleaning!

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:8

Start serving people in small unexpected ways-simple and sweet:

It’s in the smallest tasks sometimes that the greatest acts of service are done. Do not discount the little things. It can be as simple as paying it forward in the McDonald’s line, sending someone an encouraging note, or giving an unexpected care package to someone who needs a little love. What about volunteering to watch a friend’s children so she and her husband can have a date night? Baking cookies for your neighbor or spending time listening to someone elses problems? Sit down and think of ways you can show kindness and favor to others. Little random acts of kindness are simple and sweet, but you never know the impact they may have on that persons life.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Matthew 25:21

Find those with the greatest need in your community and start serving: Donate items to a homeless shelter or food to a food pantry.  Volunteer at the local soup kitchen, or deliver a meal to someone in need, maybe a family within your community touched by a recent tragedy or hard time. Invite a family less fortunate than yours over for dinner. If you know someone who will be alone for a Holiday, invite them into your home to celebrate. Visit a local nursing home, volunteer to serve at a local hospice center, or in prison ministry. Got blood? Go donate some, this is always a need. Volunteer to coach or be a leader for a children’s organization. Host a garage sale or a bake sale and donate the earnings to a local charity, school, or church. Get others involved and have fun! Start serving your community in small ways first, and then grow your serving capacity.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:37-40

Serve widows and orphans:

Adopt or become a foster parent, enter this through prayer and lots of consideration. My husband and I have recently felt the call to become foster parents, we’ve discussed it amongst ourselves and with our pastor. When our own children are a little older, I believe we will open our home up to other children. You can sponsor children in need, if foster parenting or adopting doesn’t sound right for you. I think it’s important for us to realize there are many broken homes within our communities. These single parents need help, and especially their children. Keep your eyes open, look for ways to be a blessing to a single parent that may be struggling and their children.

so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 14:29

Be of service to your church:

Serve in the kids ministry or youth group at your church, or host a small group Bible study or ladies group. Sign up for a mission trip, these don’t always have to be over seas. I am blessed to be a member of a church that not only offers several service opportunities within the church, but also within our community. We are a church based on finding and meeting the needs of others.  I enjoy serving my church in a variety of areas, and what brings me an even greater joy is serving side by side my family. There isn’t a Sunday that goes by we are not serving our Church as a family. I am teaching my daughters 12 and 6 years of age, that no matter how old you are, God can and will use you to be a blessing.

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

If you’re not sure where you can be of service within your church, sit down and speak with your pastor. I’m sure there are needs that need to be met!

Your attitude:

Your attitude has everything to do with serving others, if you are consistently a crabby, snappy, and unpleasing person to be around, start with yourself. Having a positive attitude and good manners radiates kindness to others. I know this can be challenging at times. When I wrote that we must live in the mind-set of a servant, I laughed just a little to myself. Honestly, the word servant has a bit of a negative connotation behind it. It’s not easy for us to look at the rude man in the grocery store line and think “I wonder how I can serve him”. Its just not. BUT we are sanctified and set apart for a reason. With that comes a responsibility to treat others with kindness ALWAYS! I could launch into a whole new series of blog posts right here… but we’ll save it for later.

Remember that our words can be either life-giving or life taking. We are commanded to treat others the way we would want to be treated. This becomes challenging when others “forget” how they should act. Remember my darling friend that you are a child of the one true King, and you are to act like it always. I have to say this to myself a 100 times some days, but it helps. Remember that showing kindness to others is a service to our Lord.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:31

There are so many ways you can serve others, pray and let God lead you where He needs you most!

The lies we tell ourselves:

We can’t make a difference.

We aren’t important.

We aren’t needed.

We have nothing to offer.

We don’t have time.

Wrong!! Why do you think we tell ourselves these lies? Because they come from the enemy, and if he can convince us that these are truths and not lies, then he can directly steal glory from God, and destroy the purpose God has given us.

As soon as we accepted the Holy Spirit within us, we were blessed with a spiritual gifting.  We are each equipped with a unique personality and talent, and it is so important that you recognize and develop yours! We are to be part of something greater than ourselves. Serving others is the best way to do this. We were given these gifts from God with the direct purpose that we would use them to share joy, spread love, and glorify Him.

You can make a difference, you are important, and you are needed by someone. You were given a gifting by God Himself, you absolutely have something to offer to your family, community, and church. Not having time is just an excuse to be selfish…that’s harsh but true. A random act of kindness doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Little acts of service add up! Just by complimenting and making someone feel special you’re serving.

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, but the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:14

You may lose these things!!

• arrogance
• hatred
• depression
• anxiety
• laziness
• pride
• indifference
• fear
• insecurities

Don’t fight to get them back, let them go!

You reap what you sow! So sow these things!

• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness
• happiness
• humbleness
• compassion
• empathy

Many of these are the fruit of the Spirit.  When we practice the spiritual discipline of serving the fruit of the Spirit becomes more evident within our lives. I find great comfort knowing that what I sow, I will reap. If we sow seeds of love, joy, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, patience, and compassion, then we will in turn reap these things in our own lives.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

The real truth:

It may not always be easy or fun.

You may serve the ungrateful and unkind, my darling friend they need you the most. God placed you with these people to show them light. The hardest people to serve will be the ones farthest from God, and need to see Jesus through you the most.

It can be exhausting and draining, but by using the tips below to guide you, hopefully these feelings can be avoided.

• Prayerfully enter
• Look to God’s word for guidance
• Serve within your talent and gifting-are you unsure what your spiritual gift is? Look at these passages, 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and 1 Peter 4 . These passages offer detail about what the spiritual gifts are and how they can be used. And again pray that God would show you exactly how He wants to use you as His servant.
• Make sure your service comes from your heart, and not out of personal gain, if your heart is not right it will be difficult and you will not find joy within the service you are doing.
• Never lose compassion for others and the desire to do good.
• Start slow! Work within your circle of influence, this is where God has planted you, and this is where He expects you to bloom. If you rely on Him to lead and guide you to service opportunities, you will always be doing exactly what He wants you to do. He will give you the strength and resources needed to succeed.
• Make sure you take time for yourself too, it’s okay to rest.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Colossians 3:23

Wake up each day with the purpose to do good. Think about ways to be a blessing to others, and have fun with it. I encourage you to do one act of service each day, it can be as simple as placing a smile on someone’s face. Your options are limitless, and the benefits endless. Wake up with the purpose to glorify God through your good works. Be inspiring to other Christian’s, encouraging to non-believes, and shine your light so bright the everyone around you just knows that you are set apart, that you are a child of God, and your heart belongs to Jesus. Rejoice and be glad, because in this day you have a purpose!

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Think about these questions:

What is your gifting/talent?

How can you use your gifting or talents to serve God and be a blessing to someone else?

Are you serving your own household well?

Do you know someone who would be encouraged by this Blog Post? Please share! By doing so you are helping spread His Light to others 🙂

I would LOVE to connect with you! Like and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

AND

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As always your thoughts and comments are welcome!! Connecting is so important in forming Godly relationships!

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My darling friends we are over half way through our 8 spiritual disciplines!! God has been dealing with me, and my heart is that He is also dealing with you. I have experienced so much personal growth. I’ve shed tears as He’s revealed truths to me I had not seen before. My relationship with Him is closer than ever. I am starting to see life transformations take place as the fruit of the Spirit becomes more evident in my life. I pray this is true for you as well!

If you missed the first five post in this series don’t worry, it’s not to late to join us! The links are below and I encourage you to get started today, you won’t regret it. Work through them at your own pace, taking time to establish good habits that last a life time.

8 Spiritual Disciplines: What Are They & Why Are They Important?

8 Spiritual Disciplines: One-Scripture Reading, Memorizing, & Reflecting

8 Spiritual Disciplines: Two- Prayer

8 Spiritual Disciplines: Three-Fasting

8 Spiritual Disciplines: Four-Worship

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