Today’s culture has poisoned the minds of men, convincing them that by worshiping, they are less than a “real man.” How foolish. Men were designed to worship. God ordained it that way. It’s a lie from the enemy that says worship makes you weak; instead, it’s the ultimate expression of strength, because only a real man can bow his heart to the Creator and still stand tall.

Worship is the right posture for any man who loves God and wants to lead his family. A man who vigorously worships the Lord with his whole heart is to be honored, because he leads by example. His kids see a father who humbles himself before God, and his wife sees a husband who puts the Lord first, establishing what a real man looks like, in the home.

Pride says, “Look at me.” This was the posture the devil took, and he got himself, along with a third of the angels, thrown out of heaven, because they worshiped Lucifer. It takes a real man to stand in humility before the Father. Anybody can say, “Look at me.” That’s so easy, anybody can do that. It’s the real man, who stands distinguished before the Lord and wholeheartedly worships Him. Not for show, but to celebrate Him. Real men worship. Pride builds nothing but walls, but worship builds a legacy for generations to come, showing others what it means to live for Him.

Worship is Absolutely Necessary

As a believer, worship is not optional. I’m definitely not being legalistic here, but let me speak to the legalistic mindset that says, “Well, I don’t really have to worship. I can worship when I feel like it.” But worshiping is not about you. It’s about Him. It’s getting broken before God and staying that way. When one truly humbles himself and worships the Lord with all of his heart, transformation takes place. There are so many benefits to developing a lifestyle of worship, here are just a few. Worship isn’t a box to check; it’s the air your soul breathes, connecting you to the Lord’s heart and opening the door for Him to move in your life in ways you can’t imagine.

If you are not in the habit of worshiping, start today. You don’t need anything other than humility. This is how God designed you, and when you function as designed, all the pieces fit. When you wake up in the morning, tell Him that He is awesome, full of joy and encouragement. Later, tell Him how worthy He is or what a caring Father He is. Watch how this simple act of worship shifts your focus.

Worshiping God Ushers in His Presence

In a moment, it ushers in His presence. Having a rough day? Take a moment to worship. It’s the recognition of His Lordship in your life, and submission to His Lordship. People talk about wanting to experience His presence all the time, and yet they don’t enter into worship. You determine if you want to experience His presence, not Him. That is entirely your responsibility. When you lift your voice or bow your heart, it’s like opening a window to let His Spirit rush in, refreshing your soul, and aligning your focus.

Moreover, you don’t have to wait until you gather together with other believers and get the band to play your favorite worship song. You can do it right now, in the present, without any music. In fact, if you make it a point to worship in private, you will find that those times of corporate worship are so much more exhilarating, exciting, and celebratory when you take the time to worship the Lord on your own, outside of the corporate setting. Private worship builds a foundation that makes Sunday mornings explode with joy, because you’ve already been meeting with God all week long.

Worshiping God Aligns Your Heart with His

When your heart is in alignment with His heart, you can walk in His presence. It is so much easier to make this a way of living when you purpose in your heart to worship the Lord throughout the day. This way of living defines what a “Believer” looks like. Celebrating who the Lord is, no longer becomes a Sunday experience, but an everyday posture. Worshiping the Lord throughout the day demonstrates to the Lord that your heart is in alignment with His. Alignment means your decisions, your words, and your actions start to reflect His heart, making you a light to your family, friends, and even strangers.

Worshiping God Changes You from the Inside Out

There is always room to grow and mature in your relationship with the Lord, and that should be every man’s desire, to become more like Him. Worship is an act of humility, which is required for transformation to take place in your heart. It is the foundation needed for the Lord to work on your heart. It’s like letting God reshape the clay of your soul, smoothing out the rough edges and forming you into the man He created you to be.

If your life is a mess, worship the Lord. Worship brings healing and restoration to your soul because it moves your soul into alignment with God. When your heart is in alignment with God, He will give rest to your soul (see Matthew 11:28-29). Worship takes the chaos inside—anger, fear, or failure—and trades it for His peace, rebuilding you into a man who carries His strength.

I pray-worship all the time. “Pray-worship” is when you speak words of adoration to the Lord throughout the day. It might be when you are driving your car, or while in the supermarket, or when you get up from your desk at work on your way to the restroom. It usually is short and to the point. I do this throughout the day because I need to keep my heart in alignment with His. There is too much going on in our lives each day not to worship Him throughout the day. These quick moments of pray-worship are like anchors, keeping your heart steady no matter what storms come your way.

I encourage you to pray-worship throughout the day for two weeks, and then look back and see if, in fact, you are not a different person. Worshiping the Lord throughout the day will absolutely strengthen your relationship with Him, and as His son, you’ll find that you look a lot more like Him. You’ll notice your heart softening, your patience growing, and your faith deepening, because worship keeps you connected to the Father who made you for this purpose.

When one serves, it has an impact on the one being served, but how does one create a lasting impact on those they serve? This question drives us to serve with purpose, aligning our actions with God’s heart to leave a legacy of love.

When you express God’s love in a practical way, you enter into a partnership with the Spirit of God Himself. This selfless act of service literally attracts the Holy Spirit. In effect, your act of kindness invites the Holy Spirit to revive, refresh, and rejuvenate their soul. This is the secret to serving for maximum impact. It’s not just about the act, but about inviting God’s presence to work through you, touching lives in ways only He can.

Your service should carry a tender touch that flows from a heart full of compassion, reflecting God’s gentle love. As you serve with the Father’s love, the Spirit of God breathes life into the individual you are serving. This gentle touch reflects God’s heart, making your service a conduit for His healing and restoration.

Partnering with the Holy Spirit

Remember, it’s not about you; it’s all about partnering with the Holy Spirit and honoring the Father. When you serve selflessly, you invite the Holy Spirit to serve alongside you. When the Holy Spirit partners with you in service, the impact that He leaves on the one served is powerful and will be life-changing.
When serving, your objective should be to partner with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to partner with you. It is when you choose to clothe yourself in humility that His Presence will rush in and minister to the soul of the one being served.

Below are 8 powerful ways in which you can partner with the Holy Spirit to have a lasting impact on those you serve.

1) Find a Mom at Checkout, and Offer to Help Her Put Her Groceries in Her Car

Usually, a Mom who has just finished grocery shopping with her kids in the cart is tired and probably frustrated. She simply wants to get the kids in the car and make her way home. By helping her get her groceries to the car for her, you help alleviate the stress that she is feeling, and your act of kindness will not be forgotten.

Remember, your purpose is to give, not get. Don’t use this as an opportunity to “witness” to her. Simply demonstrate the Gospel and let the Holy Spirit minister to her. Sorry, guys, but this one is only for Women. Assuming that it is a Mom grocery shopping with her kids, only a woman can minister in this capacity (or a husband and wife could). The reason for this is that you don’t want the “Mom” to think that you are hitting on her, or that you want anything in return for your act of kindness. In this case, Women should minister to Women, and men should minister to men.

2) Have “Papa John’s” or “Domino’s Pizza” Delivered

Order pizza and have it delivered to your next door neighbor for dinner. Be sure that all expenses are paid for (including the tip), prior to delivery. If they usually get home from work at 5:30 p.m., ensure that the pizza is delivered at 5:45 p.m. You may even want to put a Post-it note on their door that reads,

“Dinner is on me tonight. I just wanted to express God’s love in a practical way. Your pizza will arrive at 5:45 p.m., everything has already been paid for and taken care of, even the tip. Enjoy!”.

Just be certain that you do not sign your name, or let them know who did this for them. Remember, you are expressing God’s love in a practical way. If you remain anonymous and unnamed, the Lord receives ALL of the glory. The moment you are identified in any way with this act of kindness, you rob the Father of the glory and take it as your own.

3) Engage in Conversation for the Purpose of Listening

All too often, we engage in conversation so that we can convey our opinion. Be honest, when was the last time that you engaged in conversation with no hope or expectation of being heard? Genuinely listening to someone speaks volumes. It shows that you really care about them. You don’t need to “counsel”, just listen.

I can’t over-emphasize just how important it is to listen. Don’t speak. Let the Holy Spirit speak. You just need to sit there and listen with an empathizing ear. The Holy Spirit is the great Counselor. He knows what questions to ask them, and His questions will always address the heart of the issue.

4) Shovel Your Neighbor’s Driveway Before They Wake Up

A snow blizzard presents a tremendous opportunity for you to leave a huge impact on your neighbor. I can tell you firsthand that there is no greater joy than to wake up after a snow blizzard, only to find that your driveway is completely snow-free.

This really works best if you, or your neighbor, already has a snow-blower that you use to blow out your driveway. The reason for this is because the owner of the house whose driveway you are clearing will think that you are clearing out your driveway, and not theirs.

A few years ago, we were hit with about 30 inches of snow in a 24 hour period. We were snowed in. Everybody was snowed in for a week. Unbeknownst to my wife and me, early in the morning, while we were still asleep, the neighbor across the street used his snow-blower to remove all the snow from our driveway. It must have taken him at least an hour to do, and when I woke up that morning to start the process of shoveling out our driveway with a literal snow-shovel, boy was I surprised to find that it was already done. I was blown away.

Acts of kindness like this leave lasting impressions, but when carried out with the love of the Father, that’s where real impressions are made. The Father will take what you have done and minister in ways that you can’t fathom, because you don’t know what the issues of the heart are, but the Father does.

5) Use a Leaf Blower on Your Neighbor’s Lawn While They Are Not Home

Raking leaves takes forever, and is probably of the devil. OK, I’m kidding about the devil part, but it does take forever. Each year, you have a big opportunity to minister to the neighbor who has the most leaves all over their lawn. Or, perhaps you may want to do this for an elderly couple who can’t rake leaves, or would find it incredibly difficult to do.

As is the case in shoveling snow, you don’t want any credit for this act of service. You will need to take steps to ensure that you don’t receive any credit for this generous act of kindness.

If you are not able to get the job done yourself, gather a team of people to help you so that you can get the job done quickly. You may want to ask your youth pastor if he can assemble a team of teenagers who understand and value the idea of serving selflessly, without being noticed.

If you don’t have a leaf blower, rent one, or rent a couple of them. Just be sure to use the leaf-blowers when the owner of the house is not home.

If you assemble a team, think of it as a “SWAT team”, that completes the job with surgical precision. If the owner of the house does come home early, the team that you have assembled can “run” out of sight and assemble at a pre-determined location. When you finish the job, take the “SWAT team” out for pizza and ice cream.

6) Write a Hand-written Letter of Encouragement

When was the last time that you received a handwritten letter? I bet it has been years, if not decades. Today, when a letter is written, it is written on a computer and sent via email. If one were to actually write a letter and send it to somebody in the mail, they would almost certainly print it out from their computer. Nobody sends handwritten letters to people today.

Just after my wife and I had gotten married, we were looking for a church that we could call our own. We did not want to be “church hoppers,” and decided that we were going to choose three churches to attend before making the commitment to attend that church for one full year. Of the three churches that we attended, one of them sent us a handwritten letter thanking us for attending service that Sunday. It was written by and signed by the Pastor, himself. Guess which church we decided to make our home church?

That one handwritten letter was the determining factor in our commitment to serve in that church body for the next couple of years as we made our way through college. We invested a lot of time and energy into that church body, and still have friends from that congregation some 25+ years later. All that happened because one pastor decided to take three minutes of his day and send us a handwritten letter in the mail.

When you write a letter to somebody, make certain that you are not preaching at them, but rather encourage them. Every paragraph that you write should be written in such a way that they find encouragement in what they read. Don’t be fake about it. Be genuine. If you do this, it will certainly have a very lasting impact on them.

7) Expressing Kindness in the Simple Things

You can leave a lasting impact on somebody by doing the simplest of things. For example, smiling while opening the door and holding it open for somebody on your way into your local convenience store or Dunkin’ Donuts each morning on the way to work.

Looking for opportunities to assist someone is another small thing that you can do that will have a lasting impact. For example, picking something up off the floor that somebody just dropped.

Your kindness should shine through small acts that carry the weight of God’s love, leaving a mark on hearts through humble service.

Carrying out simple and small kind acts of service will almost certainly have a greater effect on you than it will on the recipient of your kind deed. If you make it a habit to look for opportunities to show small kind acts of service to people, it will help you maintain an attitude of servanthood.

Just like listening to worship music helps one maintain an attitude of worship throughout the day, so too, simple small acts of service help develop and maintain the attitude of a servant in your heart.

8) Pick Up the Dog Poop in Your Neighbor’s Yard

Anyone who has a dog and a yard, has dog poop in their yard. It may not be a lot, (or it might be), but I promise you, they have dog poop in their yard.

The last thing a dog owner wants to do, is pick up the dog poop in their yard. This is where you come in. You can really minister to someone by picking up the dog poop in their yard.

This particular act of service can be embarrassing for the recipient, and it is very important that you do not let them know that you are doing this for them. You definitely want to make sure that they are not home when you do this and that they will not return while you are doing this, as it will be very embarrassing for them if they see you picking up the poop in their yard.

You want to keep it a secret. In other words, you do not want them to find out that you picked up the poop in their yard**, ever.** Additionally, you don’t want their neighbors to find out that you picked up the poop in their yard because if they find out, it will get back to the dog owner.

Remember, it’s not about you. Don’t let the right hand know what the left hand is doing. For that matter, don’t let anybody know what you are doing. The Lord knows, and that’s all that matters.

Given that I have two medium sized dogs, I can tell you from personal experience that they poop a whole lot more than you think they do. You would be wise to bring a 5 pound bucket with you, and of course, be sure to wear disposable gloves. This almost goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway. Don’t leave the dog poop in their trash barrel. You need to bring it with you and dispose of it anywhere else, just not where the dog owner will be able to find it.

Closing Thoughts

I encourage you to be on the lookout for other opportunities to partner with the Holy Spirit. You will find that as you look for such opportunities, they arise all the time, every day. Remember, when you start serving others with love, you attract the Holy Spirit, who will then do the real ministering. The last thing you want to do is get in His way, or rob the person who is sharing with you, of the opportunity to be ministered to by the Holy Spirit.

When one serves, it has an impact on the one being served, but how does one create a lasting impact on those they serve? This question drives us to serve with purpose, aligning our actions with God’s heart to leave a legacy of love.

When you serve with love, the Lord uses that very act of service to minister directly to the soul, both yours and the one you are serving. Choosing to be mentored by a servant and absorbing everything you can on servanthood will spark growth in your heart. The true power of servanthood flows from investing time with the Father, producing fruit that transforms the lives of those you serve.

Make Sure Your Motives Are Right

In order to have maximum impact, never serve in the hope of getting something back in return. That is not serving. That is called selfish ambition. Don’t deceive yourself, that way of thinking is all about you, not others. If you are completely honest with yourself, and find that you hope that your act of service will return anything, stop serving. Your act of serving is just that, an act.

Selfish ambition creeps in like an actor overplaying their role to draw attention to themselves. The very moment selfish ambition plays a role in your act of service, is the moment when the Holy Spirit exits stage right. He does not play games or compromise. You either serve Him, or you serve yourself.

Why is it that Serving People Has Such a Powerful Impact?

Man is naturally selfish. Serving others is absolutely contrary to the nature of man. Think about it, do children naturally share their toys with their siblings or hoard them to themselves? As a parent of two children, I can tell you that they do not share their toys with each other, and I’m sure your kids don’t either. Why? Because by nature, children are self-centered. Selflessness is something that is learned. You are not born selfless, you are born self-centered.

Only after one has learned to embrace an other-centered mindset birthed out of love for the person you are serving, will the door to the heart of that individual fling open for the Holy Spirit to minister to. This is a Kingdom principle. When you express the love of the Father, it is going to have a positive effect. Like water being poured on fire changes the physical conditions, expressing the Father’s love while serving, has a spiritual impact on the one being served. A lot more could be said on this, but just know that the act of service carried out as an expression of the Father’s love, is the cause of the powerful impact, not you. Again, it’s not about you, but rather about embracing an other-centered way of thinking.

Serving with the Father’s love opens the heart of the one you serve, allowing the Holy Spirit to bring healing and transformation.

Serving Without Love Does Not Help, and in Fact, May Have a Negative Impact
If you can’t serve with love for the person you are serving, don’t serve.

As I am sure you are aware, Paul wrote the following:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (ESV):
If one does not serve with love, they may come across as annoying as a gong or clanging cymbal, and their “service” has no value. In fact, they may even become an annoyance to the one they are “serving”.

That annoyance may not be evident immediately, but the memory of the fake service can have lasting damage. Have you ever met someone who said, “I don’t attend church because those people were such hypocrites”? In the same way, one who does not serve from a heart of love is viewed as a hypocrite, and they will see right through you. You won’t fool anyone, especially the Father.

What follows in this article are tangible things you can implement today that will help you develop a servant mindset, so that you too, can pave a highway for the Holy Spirit to minister to the souls of those you serve.

Spend Time with the Father Every Day

Just before Jesus started his public ministry, he spent 40 days in the desert fasting. He spent every moment with the Father, gleaning, cherishing, developing intimacy. Communion with the Father was refined there. Note that it was after he spent this time with the Father that he said, “the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.” (John 5:19 – ESV). There is much I could say about this passage alone, but the point is that you require intimacy with the Father to be an effective servant.

If you want to be a better servant, spend more time with the Father. Take a look at John the Baptist. I always wondered why Jesus said of him, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”. – Matthew 11:11 (ESV).

As a young believer, I used to think, “Really, what did John the Baptist ever aspire to? He’s the guy who ate locusts and honey. All he did was dunk people in water.” What was it that differentiated John the Baptist from others? He died to self as evidenced by his lifestyle in order to be intimate with the Father.

Investing time with the Father is like a farmer who plants seed in rich soil. It receives all the nutrients, water, and sunlight from the Father in order to produce a bountiful harvest. The more intimate you become with the Father, the more effective your acts of service will have on those you serve.

Find a True Servant to Mentor You

Servants serve. They don’t lead. When called upon to lead, they are not comfortable. Servants prefer to serve behind the scenes. So, when looking for a mentor, that is where you will find a genuine servant. The mentor you are looking for may be a High School janitor, or one who works in a soup kitchen to feed the homeless.

Don’t look up the ministry ladder to find a Servant Mentor. Look down. Reach out to the person who is always looking for people to serve, one who genuinely serves others. One who doesn’t talk about serving, but actually does it, all the time, without being asked.

Hang out with them, and serve with them. You don’t need to make a big deal about it, or even ask them, “Will you be my mentor?” They will probably feel very uncomfortable if you were to approach them with such a question. However, if you do as I am suggesting, you will learn so much from them as you serve together. Mind you, you won’t necessarily gain nuggets of wisdom from them. The Holy Spirit is the “nugget giver”. He will teach you all you need to know, as you serve alongside them.

Absorb Everything You Can on Servanthood

One of the big takeaways from the book, “As a Man Thinketh”, by James Allen, is that you become what you think about. If your goal is to become servant-minded, you will go to great lengths to absorb everything that encourages that way of thinking. Your heart will grow servant-minded by immersing yourself in stories and teachings about servanthood, shaping your thoughts to reflect a selfless spirit. Watching movies that are servant oriented will also have a big impact on your thinking. Your objective is to learn all you can about the heart of a servant, and this quest never ends.

Note that I didn’t say, absorb everything you can on “Servant Leadership”. Servants don’t lead. They serve. Servants don’t aspire to become leaders. They aspire to serve more. They look for ways to serve that will have a greater impact on the individual they are serving.

Be honest with yourself. If you want to be a leader, then pursue that. There is nothing wrong with becoming a leader, but do not engage in false-humility by serving in the hope of finding yourself in the spotlight. A true servant does not look to be in the spotlight, but rather looks for ways to give that honor to others. False humility is a stench in the nostrils of the Lord.

Find Someone to Serve Every Day

To develop a servant mentality, you have to actually serve people, every day. It is not enough to learn about serving by simply reading about it, or even being mentored by someone. You have to actually do it. Serving daily kneads a selfless mindset into your heart, shaping you into a true servant.

As a kid, my Mom used to make homemade bread for our family. I remember her kneading the bread with a rolling pin, and massaging out the air-pockets by hand. Similarly, every time you serve someone, that very act of service allows the Lord to knead servanthood into your way of thinking.

But integrity plays a role as well. You have to practice what you preach. James wrote, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only” – (James 1:22). Again, it’s not enough to know about serving, or to have been mentored by the humblest of all servants, or to have attended the greatest universities on servanthood. You are not a servant until you have served.

Only after you practice serving, only as you die to self while serving, will the real power of servanthood clothe you. Once you are clothed with the servanthood mentality, when you serve others, the Holy Spirit is then able to minister to the one you are serving in far more reaching ways than you ever could.

Closing Thoughts

In order to think like a servant who will have maximum impact on the one they are serving, you must spend time with the Father. There are no shortcuts. There is no way around it. If you genuinely want to have the greatest impact on those you serve, you must invest your time with the Father. The more time you invest in your relationship with the Father, the greater impact you will have on those you serve.

I would encourage you to spend some time with Him now. Ask Him to bring a greater revelation of these truths to your heart. Repent if you need to. Now stand tall in God confidence knowing that when you do serve, you are serving the love of the Father to those He has entrusted you with.

Never in the history of the world has one been able to communicate to the masses so easily. We live in a world where anyone can express their viewpoint by simply tapping out a sentence or two on their cell phone. Not too long ago, in order to communicate to the masses, one had to write a book. With the advent of the Internet, you could simply post an article to your website to share your heart with others.

Today, platforms like Facebook allow instant connection, but require greater care to reflect God’s love in every word. Your speech on these platforms should carry the grace of the Father, reaching hearts with love and truth. Every word you share online can reflect the Father’s heart and draw others closer to His truth.

With the iteration of each new communication platform, it not only becomes easier to communicate, but one can now reach a broader audience in a shorter period of time. What used to take years to communicate now takes less than a second, and therein lies a danger.

People do not think before they post. They post whatever they “feel” at that moment. Because they lack discipline, their posts are often defensive, steeped in selfish immature thinking reminiscent of a child in the grocery store who throws a temper tantrum. Such thoughtless words harm hearts and push people away from God’s love. Haven’t you read such posts yourself?

Just yesterday, a friend of mine wrote the following post on Facebook telling everyone that he was closing his Facebook account. Here is what he said:

“. . . Although I have enjoyed the opportunity over the years to reconnect with old friends, I can no longer take the rate of information, especially as it pertains to political opinions, nor the ease by which people are able to dehumanize each other by not having face-to-face conversations about the really hard issues that we are facing today. This particular social media outlet makes it so easy for people to write things that they would never say to each other face to face. I love you all and hope to see you around.”

Paul encourages us by writing, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” – Colossians 4:6. The temptation, however, is to post exactly what we feel, when we feel it, throwing grace to the wind, and salt in the wound. To avoid this trap, you can take simple steps to ensure your words reflect the Father’s heart and build others up. Choose to honor the Father by letting His grace guide every word you share to bless others.

Below are 3 things you can do right now to ensure that your words are gracious and “seasoned with salt” when posting to any social media platform.

Don’t Post Something That Does Not Reflect Your Character

All too often, I read posts from people on Facebook or X that appear to be “spiritual”, but really don’t reflect the character of the individual posting. The irony is that in posting something bigger than they are, they unknowingly expose their lack of spiritual depth. On the other hand, when one does post something that is in alignment with their character, it speaks loudly and is remembered. A post rooted in a heart changed by God carries His truth and touches lives with lasting impact. Remember, spiritual authority only has a voice if it has already changed your character.

Let Your Speech Always Be Gracious

If you do post, only post that which is going to build those who read up. In other words, only post things that edify those who read. If after reading what you have written, read it again to ensure that the biggest thing that comes across is building up those who read, NOT your opinion (See Eph. 4:29). Opinions reflect your thinking. More to the point, they expose your thinking. If you approach each post with the object of building others up, that thinking will reflect in your writing, and will impact the reader. Write words that lift a friend’s spirit or point others to the Father’s love to encourage their faith.

Wait Before Posting

When reading an offensive post, the natural tendency is to respond immediately to get YOUR point across. Stop. Breathe. And wait. Wait until you have heard from Wisdom. She may tell you to post something, but she very well may tell you not to post anything, and that’s OK. Getting her permission to post is key, and once you have her permission, follow her counsel when writing. Pausing to seek the Father’s wisdom keeps your heart aligned with His truth and protects others from harm.

Closing Thoughts

Your words on social media carry the power to reflect God’s heart or to harm others, so choose them with care. Let every post flow from a heart shaped by the Father’s love, building others up with grace and truth. Gracious speech opens the door for the Holy Spirit to minister to hearts and build a legacy of love for God’s glory.

To develop a servant’s heart, you must begin by being in right alignment with God. Recognizing who you are in relationship to who He is exposes any pride that you may have, and yet at the same time, the more you recognize who you are in relationship to Him, the more you embrace humility. Embracing humility is a daily practice, not a one time event. By doing so, you’ll keep your heart in alignment with the Holy Spirit. Staying humble before God shapes your heart to care for others selflessly. A heart aligned with God reflects His love and prepares you to serve others selflessly.

It is important to note that serving others does not hope for recognition. The Father sees what you are doing, and He takes notice. When you view servanthood as a way of living, an expression of worship to God, you do so willingly with joy because it is a reflection of your relationship with God. When you serve others, recognizing your act of service as an expression of worship, it’s like giving God a hug. Your service becomes a gift to the Father, honoring Him through every act of love. Serving others shows the Father’s care through your actions.

The Goal is Not to Serve Into Something Else

If you are serving to serve your way “up the ladder”, you misunderstand the concept of servanthood. The goal of the servant is to serve, and that’s the heart of it. One serves as an expression of worship to the Lord. He serves to express the love of God in a practical way, and in so doing, he honors the Lord. Servanthood is other-centered, not self-centered. True servanthood flows from a heart that seeks only to honor God and bless others. Every act of service spreads love that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

The Servant’s Thinking Determines His Behavior

Developing an ‘other-centered mindset’ is key here. The more time you invest in searching for opportunities to serve others, the more natural serving others will become. It will become second nature because your behavior follows your thinking. In as much as this is true of people like Charles Manson, it is equally true of those who serve like Mother Teresa. Both Charles Manson and Mother Teresa carried out what they allowed their mind to ponder, and so it is with you. You become what you think about. Focus your thoughts on serving others, and your heart will grow to reflect the Father’s selfless love. Thinking about helping others daily trains your heart to live with kindness.

It’s the Little Things that Make a Difference

Serving in small ways can make a difference in someone’s day. Every small act of service, done with love, reflects God’s heart and brings joy to those you serve. Whether you hold the door for someone at the store, let another driver merge in traffic, or offer your umbrella in the rain, these moments show God’s love in practical ways. Even parking farther away or cleaning up after others when it’s not your job can plant seeds of kindness that the Father uses to touch hearts. Small acts of care, done with love, create a ripple effect that changes lives.

Why would you do these things? For the express purpose of expressing God’s love in a practical way. If they don’t notice, that’s OK. The point is not to serve so they will notice. Remember, you are serving God, and He notices. Serving with a joyful heart fills you with a sense of purpose and peace.

Closing Thoughts

Developing a servant’s heart starts with aligning your heart with the Father’s love through daily humility. Serve others not for recognition, but to honor God, letting your words and actions reflect His grace and truth every day. Start serving now, and let your heart show God’s love to those who need it most.

The Ministry of Encouragement is probably one of the most overlooked “ministries” out there. It only takes seconds to do, and has, by far, the longest lasting impact on the one being ministered to because has both an immediate effect, and is remembered long after it was given.

If there were ever a ministry that every believer could participate in, it would have to be the ministry of encouragement. A simple word of encouragement can lift someone’s heart and show God’s love in a way that sticks with them for years.

Encouragement Builds Up

Paul wrote to the church urging them to, “encourage one another and build one another up . . .” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV). Have you ever asked, “Why?” It’s because the world is full of discouragement and finds satisfaction in bringing people down. Jesus brings life. When you offer encouragement to one who is discouraged, you bring life and hope to their heart in a way that reflects God’s love. Building others up always produces life. When you encourage people, you advance the Kingdom of God. Your words of encouragement act like a spark, igniting hope in someone’s heart when the world tries to dim their light.

An Encouraging Word Can Last a Lifetime

Have you ever received an encouraging word from someone who had an enormous impact on your life? I’ll bet that the person who gave that encouraging word had no idea how much impact their words would have on you. But you remember it because it had a lasting impact on you. Think for a moment of just how effective your “ministry of encouragement” could be. Start out small and make it a point to encourage someone each day, starting today.

Encouragement does not have to be something ‘profound’, but simple and honest. I have found that when encouraging someone, addressing who they are has the greatest impact. You can tell your son his lawn-mowing makes the yard look sharp, thank your spouse for all they do to keep your home running, or tell a coworker their hard work makes a real difference. Maybe you notice a friend’s quiet kindness, tell them their care for others stands out, or let someone know their positive attitude lifts everyone around them. These simple words, spoken from the heart, show people they are valued and leave a lasting mark.

Why Encouragement Matters

The world tears people down, but your encouragement can show God’s love and build them back up. When you speak words that lift others, you partner with the Holy Spirit to bring hope and strength to their hearts. Every day, people face struggles that weigh heavy on their hearts, from job stress to personal doubts, and your kind words can be the lifeline that pulls them out of despair.

When you encourage someone, you show them they are seen and valued, reflecting God’s care in a way that changes how they see themselves. Your words don’t need to be fancy; a simple, honest comment about someone’s effort or character is memorable. By choosing to encourage others, you push back against the world’s negativity and create a ripple effect of love that touches more lives than you’ll ever know.

Closing Thoughts

Encouragement is a gift you can give every day, showing God’s love through simple, honest words. Start today by looking for someone to encourage, and let your words reflect a heart that cares for others.

From the day that you were born, whether you know it or not, you have been building a box, and in this box is a collection of all your experiences. These experiences have guided your thinking, and as a result, your behavior. For some, the experiences of life have been great. For others, however, hardship and difficulty have been with them their entire lives. While one’s box is full of positive experiences, the other’s box is full of negative experiences.

The Box full of positive experiences Serves as a source of encouragement. The Box full of negative experiences serves as a source of discouragement. Both boxes serve as the foundation for how one thinks, laying the foundation for what one believes is possible. Positive experiences build a heart full of hope, while negative ones can trap you in doubt, but you can change your thinking to break free.

The Key Question for Breaking Free

I don’t remember what the conversation was about, but I do remember my wife asking the question, “But if it were possible, what would it look like?”. That one question forced me to see beyond my experience and opened my heart to unbelievable possibilities.

This question reveals possibilities that were always there, but have been kept out of sight due to either arrogance or ignorance. The arrogant one believes that he has all the answers, but his own pride prevents him from seeing what is there right before him. To the ignorant, if it cannot be seen, it does not exist.

If you want to be able to see what lies in plain sight, you need to think outside the box of your experiences. Start by imagining what success would look like if nothing held you back, letting that vision guide your heart to take the first step.

God Thinks Outside of Your Box

As a believer, the Lord lives in your heart, but he thinks way outside of the box that you think within. Our objective should be to think as He does, beyond the natural limitations that we have set for ourselves. God sees possibilities where you see walls, so let your heart align with His thinking to see the way forward.

With God, all things are possible. So why not use that as the starting point? Why not begin every thought outside of the box that you have been thinking within all these years? Ask yourself often what could happen if you trusted God’s possibilities, letting that question open your heart to new ways of thinking.

That is where God thinks. There are no walls or limitations to what is possible beyond the walls and perceived limitations that you have created in your mind.

This is not a “new-age” concept. It’s taking the verse, “With God, all things are possible” to heart (see Matthew 19:26). There is freedom outside the walls of your thinking.

Why is it important to think where God thinks? Because when your thoughts venture to where his thinking resides, believing Him for what appears to be impossible becomes possible in your mind. This is why you should regularly start asking yourself, “If it were possible, what would it look like?” This question shifts your thinking from limitation to the impossible, making room for God to transform the way you approach life.

In just asking the question, you pave the 18-inch highway from your mind to your heart and belief takes root. Don’t allow your negative experiences to determine your thinking. Instead, let your thinking influence your circumstances, and remember, with God, all things are possible.

Rudy’s Story

In 1993, a movie by the name of “Rudy” was released, and to this day, stands as a classic. It tells of a true story of a boy who grew up in Joliet, Illinois where he dreamed of playing college football at the University of Notre Dame.

It was as though life was doing its best to prevent him from accomplishing his dream. His own family didn’t believe in him and expressed disappointment that he was wasting time chasing this ridiculous dream. Rudy had Dyslexia, was a poor student, and even lost his fiancée to one of his brothers.

Because Notre Dame would not admit him as a student, he decided to apply to Holy Cross College, a poor junior college, in the hope of boosting his GPA to qualify for a transfer. After two years and three rejections, Rudy was finally accepted into Notre Dame during his final semester of transfer eligibility. Rudy’s story shows how one question can change how you approach life, challenging you to pursue the impossible.

Closing Thoughts

Thinking outside your box opens your heart to God’s possibilities, letting you see what was always there. Start asking, “If it were possible, what would it look like?” today, and let that question shape your the way you think moving forward. If you allow that question to guide your thinking, you’ll find freedom in trusting God to make what seems impossible possible.

The Father finds great joy in seeing His children reflect His heart of love through acts of restoration. This pursuit not only honors Him but also transforms lives around us.

It pleases the Lord to no end when we make it our priority to mimic the Father’s heart, partnering with the Holy Spirit to bring about restoration in the lives of others. When we do so, with as much enthusiasm and commitment as the Father has expressed toward us, I can’t help but think that He beams with joy. Seeing you care for others as the Father cares for you fills His heart with tremendous joy.

Mimicking the Father

A father experiences tremendous joy when he sees his child mimic him. I remember my son lathering his face well before he had facial hair with enough shaving cream to shave 10 times over. Though the house was filled with laughter, I personally found tremendous joy knowing that my son was trying to be like me. This was true when he was 11 years old, and even more so now that he is an adult. Now it’s not shaving cream that covers his face, but rather the character of Jesus. This so pleases his heavenly Father. Your heart mirrors the Father when you show love that restores relationships, just as He does for you.

If there is one thing that the Father is known for, it is for his sacrificial love that he has lavished on us in the hope of restoring the broken relationship between mankind and Himself (see Romans 5:8). He sent his Son, to serve as a mediator between the Father and man (see 1 Timothy 2:5). When we look at Jesus, we see that he only did what he saw the Father doing (see John 5:19). He too, mimicked his Father. It’s what sons do. Jesus purposed to restore the relationship between his Father and mankind by being that mediator. The Father’s love restores what is broken, and your heart mirrors His when you seek to heal relationships.

Loving Restoration into the Lives of People

Jesus said, “Just as I have loved you, so you must also love one another” (John 13:34). It is with a restorative heart that we are to love one another. Love is a verb. It is something that you do. We are to love with a heart of restoration. We are to mimic Jesus. Just as Jesus loved restoration into the lives of people, so also are we to love restoration into the lives of people. Your heart reflects Jesus when you choose to love others in ways that heal and restore their lives.

Purposing to Restore People

What if we, like Jesus, purposed to restore people? What if we were to look for opportunities to restore what has been taken from them? But in practical terms, what would that even look like? David restored Mephibosheth to his rightful place at the King’s table (2 Samuel 19). Who in your life needs to be restored? How might you bring restoration to your marriage, your place of business, your colleagues, a friend who is going through a divorce, or even your own children? How does one approach life with a restorative mindset when every need is different? Your heart finds purpose in restoring others when you seek ways to heal what life has broken in them.

What Does Restoration Look Like?

Look around and ask yourself, “What is broken?” Now ask yourself, “What would it look like unbroken?” Perhaps you don’t have the faith to believe that restoration is even possible for a given situation, but let’s just say that it was possible, what would that look like? What would it look like completely restored? Now, take that picture that you have in your head, and make it your purpose to do everything you can to bring that to fruition. That involves both prayer and action on your part. This is what having a restorative mindset looks like. Don’t you see Jesus in that way of thinking? Restoration starts with seeing the broken and imagining it whole. With that picture in mind, take steps to bring that restoration to fruition.

Thinking Like the Father

This was the approach Jesus took in everything he did. This was how he thought, and why not? He knew that when he expressed the heart of the Father, nothing was impossible (see Luke 1:37). Not only did he embrace the heart of the Father, but he had the mind of the Father. He thought like the Father. Because he was the exact representation of the Father (see Hebrews 1:3), He did as the Father would do. Your heart aligns with the Father when you think like Him and act to restore what is broken.

When you truly embrace the heart of the Father you will start thinking like the Father, and in turn, you will start doing as the Father would, just like Jesus did. Not only will your life forever change, but also the lives of those you purpose to restore, just as the Father has restored you. Embracing the Father’s heart changes how you think and live, filling you with joy as you restore others.

Closing Thoughts

Making restoration a priority in your heart brings joy to the Father and changes lives around you. Start today by looking for someone to restore, letting your actions reflect the love that the Father has expressed toward you.

In 1974, my Mom bought an old beat up dresser at a yard sale. It had been painted four times. First white, then yellow, then black, and finally blue, and one of those colors was applied with spray-paint. The top of this dresser even had glitter and stars embedded in the paint, perfect for a little princess. It had nicks and dings in it, but somehow despite its horrid past and abuse, my Mom looked beyond all of its shortcomings and saw what this oak dresser would eventually look like when it was completely restored. It just needed a little love. Actually, a lot of love. Restoration became her focus. Her commitment to restoring that dresser shows how love and effort can transform something broken into something beautiful.

My Mom paid $10 for that dresser, which may not seem like a lot of money, but given inflation, that $10 in 1974 is equivalent to about $62 today. That was a lot of money for my parents at the time. When I was 9 years old, I remember her stripping the dresser in the front yard on a bright sunny day with this clear gel-like paste that irritated the eyes if you got too close (don’t ask). She had to do this outside because the smell was so bad, and after sitting for a while, it bubbled like it had blisters and boils all over it. Then she took this paint-scraper and scraped all of the paint/stripper sludge off of it. I felt bad for the dresser. Surely it had to be painful. She went through this process several times to remove all the layers of paint. Then she sanded it relentlessly. She first applied coarse sandpaper aggressively, eventually making her way down to finer sandpaper. The more she sanded the more beauty came out. I was 10 when it was completely restored. Just as my Mom saw beauty in that broken dresser, the Father sees beauty in you and works tirelessly to restore your heart.

Sometimes Life Punches Hard

Fair or not, life can punch hard. And it hurts, sometimes a lot. Life’s blows, like losing a job, facing a divorce, or grieving a child, can leave you breathless and broken. These issues are real and can feel like you have been unexpectedly hurt, taking your breath away, leaving you gasping. How does one survive such a blow, let alone recover? The Father’s love meets you in your pain, offering a path to healing through His gentle care.

Let me encourage you. The Father knows your pain, intimately so. He knows every hurtful word that has been spoken, every lie you have believed, every crushing blow you have received. Jesus offers restoration if we will just come to him.

His Son said:

The Father Sees The Completely Restored You

Like my Mom could see the beauty beneath all the years of wear and tear and abuse that this lonely dresser had gone through, so too, the Father sees the beauty that lies beneath the years of wear and tear, and perhaps even abuse, that you may have gone through. What you see are the scars and layers of pain and paint. You probably can’t envision what a restored you looks like. But God can. He sees what you look like after you are completely restored, even before the restoration process begins. The Father’s heart holds a vision of you whole and healed, ready to shine with His love.

You Can’t Rush Restoration

A doctor prescribes medicine to a patient so that patient will be restored to complete health. Complete restoration can take days, weeks, or even months for it to finish its course. Then again, it could occur in a moment. You can’t rush restoration, but God just might. Let us not forget that Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood in an instant, (see Mark 5:25-34). My approach to healing is to ask God to heal me. If the healing does not happen right then and there, I keep asking. My confidence is in Him, because I know that only He can bring complete restoration. Trusting the Father’s timing allows His love to work deeply in your heart, bringing healing when you need it most.

I also find great comfort in knowing that the Father knows me so intimately, that his prescription for healing and restoration is second to none. If I allow him to restore me the way that he sees fit, I will be completely restored. If, however, I change his prescription for healing and restoration, I won’t be completely restored. The Father’s care is tailored to your heart, ensuring every step of restoration brings you closer to His vision for you.

The Father is Relentless

He is so committed to your restoration, nothing else. His only focus is on your complete restoration. That’s why he sent his Son, that we might be restored to the Father. The Father never gives up on you, working with love to heal every part of your broken heart.

What lies have others told you that you have believed about yourself? Has your understanding of who God is and his love for you become warped? Are there layers of pain that need to be removed? Will you trust Him to restore you? My hope is that in reading this article, you see just how relentless the Father’s heart is toward seeing you completely restored, and I encourage you to respond to his invitation, “Come to me”. He will restore you so that you may have life, and have it abundantly! (See John 10:10). Let the Father’s love strip away the pain, just as my Mom stripped away the paint, to reveal the beauty He always saw in you.

Closing Thoughts

The Father’s heart is set on restoring you, and He invites you to trust Him with your healing. Look for ways to show His love to others, and let your heart reflect His commitment to restoration every day.