Kindness to Others and Yourself

When we walk by the Spirit, we will exhibit kindness. These are some aspects of kindness that, with the help of the Spirit, we must express to others.

Show kindness to yourself—not as self-indulgence, but as mercy.

First, we must have empathy. Empathy is putting yourself in another person’s place. It can be easy to forget our own past failures, weaknesses, and needs and become insensitive to the struggles of others. So to practice kindness in these situations, we must remember the people we once were and reach out to others to help them become the people God has created them to be—full of abundant life and joy, resting in the grace of God. When talking with a troubled friend, we should apply Proverbs 12:25: "Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up."

Second, show kindness to yourself—not as self-indulgence, but as mercy. Ask God to forgive your sins, but don’t dwell on them. Don’t allow your past to dominate your present thinking. In addition, allow yourself to receive kindness from others. In doing so, you are giving someone else an opportunity to experience more of God’s joy and fulfillment in their own lives.

Prayer: God, teach me to be an empathetic person. Help me to remember where I came from and to encourage others. Help me to also show myself mercy and receive kindness from others. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).

Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon The Spirituality That Heals, Part 5: LISTEN NOW

Link copied

Recent MY Devotional

Bethlehem Is a Place of Potential

December 17, 2025

The Miraculous Moment

December 16, 2025

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

Marketing Permissions

Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us:

Yes, I would like to receive ongoing updates about how God is moving through my support. No, I do not wish to continue receiving mailings at this time. I would like to completely opt-out and have my information to be forgotten.

You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at: uk.ltw.org/connect/contact-us. For more information about our privacy practices please visit uk.ltw.org/privacy By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices.