Tuesday, September 17th

I've found it heartbreaking to read of the local 12-year-old girl who committed suicide because of cruel, merciless online bullying.  She is a prime example of someone who desperately needed a friend.   As Christian young ladies, we need to be so tender to the leadership of the Holy Spirit that we don't miss the opportunity to minister to someone so genuinely broken and wounded.  I keep wondering, "Would it have made a difference in her life if just one person had reached out?"  None of us know this girl, but are there others just like her that we come in contact with every single day that we could offer a compassionate smile or encouraging word.  Recognizing a broken and crushed spirit takes Holy Spirit wisdom, because I'm not talking about drama, girls.  There's a difference in a broken person and one who is wholly-given to making a major production of every negative aspect of her life.  We have genuinely-hurting people all around us who need a touch from the Lord.  Psalm 41:4 tells us,

Blessed is he that considereth the poor:

 

This word "poor" means needy.  We are to consider the needy, not just pass them by because we are short of time, short of patience, or short of mercy.  Let us humbly remember that our time is the Lord's; we are to give our lives for His glory.  If it is patience to deal with people who are in their deepest valley that we lack, we must ask the Lord to give us His compassion.  And, if it is mercy that we are in need of, let us remember that without the Lord's mercy, we could be the one struggling with discouragement or worse, bullying.

 

Help us, Dear Jesus, to consider the poor.

 

Scripture Reading for the Day:

 

Proverbs 17

John 18