Welcome back, friend! I’m SO glad you’re here reading this blog post.
Lemme tell ya – you’re in for a treat today 🤩
For a couple of months now, I’ve wanted to feature friends on the blog because I think they’re all just wells of wisdom, love, and faith, and I believe y’all can learn so much from them!
It took me a hot second, but after finally reaching out to one of my best friends, Emily, and asking her to be on the blog, she said yes!
So, I give you a guest devotional for the FIRST TIME EVER!
Devotional by Emily Marrero
What am I learning in my faith right now?
This is a hard yet easy question because I learn so many new things daily about my faith.
I think the main thing I am learning in my faith right now is how to treat others as Jesus would truly.
I often struggle, as we all do, with treating others with compassion and understanding – especially when we know the solution to their problem, but they often are stubborn or want to figure it out on their own.
I’ve personally struggled with resentment, judging others, and even looking down on others.
It’s horrible thinking about it now, considering that’s not who I am anymore. But, as I’ve gotten closer to Jesus, I realized how much people go through and how everyone has a story.
Nobody’s perfect, and that’s okay.
“Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion, to each other; and do not oppress or exploit the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise or even imagine evil in your hearts against one another.’ Zechariah 7: 9-10
This verse is so powerful.
Living out in kindness, having compassion, not judging one another, and not carrying out any hate in my heart is what I am genuinely learning.
My flesh consumes me at times. I fall short. But I get back up and try my best to live out that way of life. Because, in reality, that’s the way Jesus lived out his life.
Jesus listened and cared for everyone. He was the embodiment of perfection.
I’ll never be perfect, but God doesn’t want that. Instead, he wants us to live out His word and spread His gospel.
That is the way I’m currently pursuing Him and growing in my faith.
I encourage you to dive deep into God’s Word and find something that you want to work on internally to grow as I have.
I promise you, you’ll not only love who you become, but you’ll get closer to a Compassionate and Kind God – I don’t think there’s anything better than that.
Reflection Questions
- Has there ever been a time in your life when you’ve struggled with judgment, resentment, or feeling superior to others?
- Has there ever been a time in your life when you’ve been on the receiving end of someone else’s judgment, resentment, or superiority? How did this make you feel?
- As Emily said, Jesus is the embodiment of perfection. What does this mean for you? Does it lessen the pressure of trying to be perfect, or does it increase your desire to be perfect like Him?
- How can you show kindness and compassion in today’s world?
- In this devotional, Emily answered a difficult question: “What are you learning in your faith right now?” It’s important for us to notice what we’ve been learning and how far we’ve come, so take a moment and reflect on what you’ve been learning in your walk with Jesus.
Prayer
Jesus, I may have messed up in the past, but I want to go forward living more like You. Help me spread kindness, compassion, and love to this struggling world. In Your Name, Amen.
Featured image credit: Mishelle Singh
Check Out Other Blog Posts!
Rooted
The Key to Being Rooted / Nature Devotional.
If we remain firm in God’s Word and grow our roots deep in God’s love, there is no external circumstance or enemy that can come against us and destroy us.
By Name
He Knows More Than the Stars By Name / Nature Devotional.
The same God who created the stars and knows them by name created you.
Mercies
Compassion With the Rising Sun / Nature Devotional.
Do you ever feel like you mess up one too many times or can never seem to stay “on track”?
