Matthew 14:14 English Standard Version (ESV) When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

The more involved we get in people’s lives the more we see pain and suffering. It can get to be too much. Thanks be unto God that we have a savior who has the power to heal. So we pray.

Seems like it isn’t enough and we want to do more but the power resides in God not us. If it were up to us we would lay hands on all we care about and heal them. Even as I write this the Holy Spirit is convicting me of my own words. “All we care about.”

God loves all mankind and not just those who touch our lives. We often forget about salvation of the lost when faced with the pain and suffering of those that have touch our lives. We do not know who is watching on the edges of these lives that need to find Jesus more than anything else. God does and how we react to the suffering of others can be a great witness to faith in Christ.

It begins with turning to the one who has compassion for everyone and not just the ones we love. We tend to focus on the ones we love and those on the fringe of suffering tend to get left out. That isn’t God’s will. He would that all mankind hear of His great love.

The love of God abides in our hearts. It is His will that we open up our hearts and let His love out. Compassion in the face of overwhelming pain and suffering is not easy and we cannot do it ourselves. We have to get God involved.

It begins with prayer.

Philippians 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Remember yesterday’s devotional about influences and look at this as the answer to that problem. Note carefully here that thinking on things that are pleasing is not listed. Pleasure is associated with a wide range of physical responses to past experiences. It can lead to obsession, addiction and bondage to something unhealthy for the soul.

We have free will and we choose what we want to dwell upon. It is a choice and Satan isn’t making you choose what to think. Do not blame Satan for the choices we make. We are free in Christ to choose the better thing.

Luke 10:41-42 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

What was Mary doing prior to this? Sitting at Jesus’ feet hanging on every word. Mary was practicing Philippians 4:8.

Is there something inside you saying “But I have things to do, responsibilities to be met.” Often times we receive these encouragements after our day begins. Do we start out our day as Mary did or are we distracted by worldly concerns? If we start the day as Mary did, then the words of Jesus hold true for us all day long. The words will not be taken from us.

We make a conscious decision as to how our days begin.