‘L i f e G i v e r’ You know, the one that invigorates life in all she does. Pouring God’s goodness {real life} into all her relationships. She humbly points others to Christ for what He is continually doing in her life. His grace & goodness spills fourth in complete splendor. She’s not perfect but, she continues to impart grace to those around her.
Its true. We all LOVE being around a ‘Life Giver’.
Sadly but shamefully – I find myself playing the part of the ‘l i f e s u c k e r.’ My family and those around may get a whiff of wrong attitudes, along with a bit of pride thrown in. Sometimes bitterness or frustration even creeps in. But with God’s amazing grace, and absolute goodness, I can strive to be that ‘L i f e G i v e r’ I so long to be.
Maybe you are like me, struggling to be the ‘L i f e G i v e r’ God designed us to be? If so, let’s together breathe life into every relationship and area of our lives. We can achieve something so beautiful. With God, its attainable!
30 Steps to Becoming a ‘L i f e G i v e r’
{A short guide to revitalizing and energizing your relationships}
{1.} Be the person God created you to be. And for the benefit of those around you, learn to say no to good things.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:16
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33
{2.} Lead a quiet life, learn to let some things go. Make peace with those who choose constant strife.
…..make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you… 1 Thessalonians 4:11
{3.} Genuinely compliment; those around you. Look passed the faults and find the good. There’s always good when you look for it. Pour forth uplifting praises. Be a blessing to everyone who comes across your path.
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
{4.} Lead your heart in gratitude; look for the everyday blessings the Lord brings your way. There’s always something to be thankful for! e.g. {Husband, House, Job, People, Money, Weather etc.}
In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
{5.} Learn to be agreeable, and how to lovingly agree to disagree. Remember, you’re not always right!
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17
{6.} Accept that ‘no’ is sometimes a ‘yes’ in God’s eyes. God obviously has something far greater in store and His timing is simply the best!
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:5-6
{7.} Be positive, compassionate & upbeat; always look at life through “God glasses.” Rejoice with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
{8.} Accept responsibility for your actions and your words; realize there are consequences for each of them.
…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
{9.} S T O P Gossip in it’s tracks! Whether you’re the one doing the talking or someone else is leading the conversation. You have the ability and power to stop gossip in its tracks. Being silent, only makes you a participant.
Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. Proverbs 26:20-22
{10.} Share your blessings & God’s love with others. Give God the glory & the praise, and encourage others to seek out their blessings as well!
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Hebrews 13:16
{11.} Learn to live and work behind the scenes. Life doesn’t always have to be on display. God sees what you do, and how you do it. Let the rewards of servant-hood take place in heaven!
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2
{12.} Share excessively; with others. Look to God for your strength.
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Proverbs 22:9Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. Psalm 105:4
{13.} Give of your time, energy and talents.
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10
{14.} Be a blessing, to everyone you know, and meet. Pour your heart out in the lives of those around you.
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:1-3
{15.} Be a giver; and don’t expect anything in return. Blessings flow in doing so!
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
{16.} Engage. Construct. PRAY. You can impair and restore relationships this way!
The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold. Job 42:10
{17.} Express your emotions; with proper discernment with others. Feel free to pour your heart out to God whenever the need arises. In fact an ongoing conversation is a beautiful thing.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8
{18.} Learn to let go, give God complete control of your life. True freedom is so refreshing! What better hands to place your worries, fears, desires, cares etc. than the Lord’s.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8
{19.} Show appreciation to others for what they HAVE done, instead of what that have not been doing. Focus on the good and encourage in those areas.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8
{20.} Build others up. Even if it’s hard to do. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. And just encourage, encourage, encourage!
Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” Luke 6:31
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
{21.} Vindicate, praise and defend others behind their back. You would want someone to do it for you!
A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter. Proverbs 11:13
{22.} Motivate yourself! Set goals, work on them one by one, day by day until you have accomplished them. Every little step brings you closer!
The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. Proverbs 21:5
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
{23.} Don’t make excuses in life. Instead make improvements, changes, & progress!
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33
{24.} Don’t be a victim. Be a ‘grace spiller.’ Spill forth God’s grace in every area of your life. God’s given us a great example.
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:12-14
{25.} Never bring about your own praise, regard others more highly.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
{26.} Learn to live life with self control and forgiveness. Learn to be the FIRST to forgive, and forget. In doing these things – you’ll gain much ground – God’s way!
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:3
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
{27.} Learn to train your attitudes to bring about grace, joy, beauty, forgiveness and God’s love into all your circumstances. Oh the daily blessings that flow!
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
{28.} Learn from your mistakes. Take the consequences that are due, ask for forgiveness – don’t live in the past, keep moving forward!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead… Philippians 3:13
{29.} Don’t compare your life with others. When the grass is looking dry on your side of the fence – water it! And remember, God has given us different valleys to go through and mountains to climb – and if we are truly His, {A believer in Christ Jesus} we will all end up in the right place, at the right God ordained time. Live out the life God has so richly blessed you with. Each trial, and muddy pit brings you that much closer. Count your blessings & moments, day after day. For each of them is a learning experience, and each of them brings you ever closer to your goal.
For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. 2 Corinthians 10-12
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8
{30.} Be confident in Christ, because He will equip you as you go throughout life. Giving you security, adequacy and capabilities to tackle your daily and life-long duties. Just, trust & obey!
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
We all long to be ‘LIFE GIVERS’. More often than not, the blessing God intends is the blessing of transformation in our own hearts. Teaching us selfless love and an abundance of growth if we choose to pardon grace. Being a ‘l i f e g i v e r’ means we are choosing a life that pours God’s love and grace on others. Living a well-lived out abundant life. The life Christ died to give every one of us.
We get to choose. Beginning with the example and character of God Himself, the ultimate ‘l i f e g i v e r.’ We can be life-givers in every relationship with which the Lord himself graced our lives with. When we choose to pour life into others, we choose a life full of abundant God ordained blessings.
For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. Psalm 36:9
Today we get to choose to pour life into the relationships in which God has placed us. And then tomorrow, we are enabled to do it again.
This post is part of a mini series. Read part one:
30 Steps to Becoming a Professional ‘L i f e S u c k e r’
{A short guide to draining the life out of your relationships}
Photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos. Used with permission.
This post is linked up at: Raising Homemakers, Walking Redeemed & Deep Roots at Home
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