“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36

What is Compassion?

Merriam-Webster defines compassion as—sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

Feeling sorry says, “Something should be done…” Compassion says, “I must do something!”

Others define it as—a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another, often including the desire to alleviate it

There is a difference between feeling sorry for someone and feeling compassion, but it’s not just a feeling. The feeling is combined with a desire to help. Because we have compassion, we want to take action and help those who are suffering. Feeling sorry says, “Something should be done…” Compassion says, “I must do something!”

The word compassion or compassion in action, shows up continually throughout Scripture:

1. Compassion is an attribute of God (Psalm 86:15; 103:13)
2. Compassion is commanded by God (Zech 7:9; Col. 3:12)
3. Compassion pleases God (Hebrews 13:16)
4. Compassion is part of the fruit of our salvation (1 John 3:17)
5. When we show compassion to others, we show compassion to Christ (Matt. 25:35-40)

Jesus is the ultimate example of compassion. Everywhere He went, His compassion compelled Him to respond to the needs of the people He encountered. Compassion moved Him to feed the hungry (Mark 8:2-3; 6-8) and heal the sick (Matt. 14:14). Jesus was always looking to show compassion to the people around Him.

Compassion is a call to action—Jesus felt and then acted. In order to be like Jesus, we must feel and act.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

Compassion prompts action. When we look at the lost and hurting around us, compassion should cause us to take action. We can’t sit back and watch others have compassion because they are better at it than we are. We have to do something. Compassion allows us to meet people right where they are.

What kind of action does compassion compel us to take?

1. Pray For Compassion

To be people of Christ like compassion, we must pray to become people of compassion. This sounds like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at how many people do not do this. Ask God to make you increasingly sensitive to the needs of others; ask Him for a sensitive heart and a sensitive spirit for the hurting and the lost. If you ask, he will give it to you.

2. Pray With Compassion

When we see a need, our first action should be prayer. “Father, how can I help?” “Father, use me to meet this person’s need.” Father, I pray that you would bring wholeness to this person.” Our prayers should encompass a heart of compassion. One that is desperate to see their situation resolved.

Let compassion take you where God wants you to go, let it stir your heart for the people around you, and let it cause you to show Jesus to those you encounter.

3. Use it; Don’t lose it

Compassion without action amounts to little more than wishful thinking. The primary reason people become less compassionate is because they do not act on the compassion they have. If you use it, it will grow. If you don’t, it will die.

The whole Bible is a compassion narrative. From Genesis to Revelation, we see God’s continual compassion for His people in spite of our disobedience. He continually pursues us pouring out His grace and compassion in order that we might have relationship with Him. Don’t stand on the sidelines feeling sorry for those who are hurting. Let compassion take you where God wants you to go, let it stir your heart for the people around you, and let it cause you to show Jesus to those you encounter.

Life coaches are a major trend in corporate America. Even with a tab of $1,500 to $10,000 per month, executives recognize the value of having someone help them process the complexity of the decisions they face, and rightly so. Good advice at the right moment can make a huge difference, and this truth is only amplified when you are walking through a trial.

As the Apostle Paul penned 2 Corinthians, he was navigating a very difficult season of life and ministry, and it is out of his personal hardship that he gives the Corinthians seven timeless life lessons—lessons that are well suited for the dawn of a new year.

1. Getting Over Yourself Helps Get The Gospel Out

It’s fair to say that as Paul penned this letter he was under intense attack. False teachers were intent on undercutting his ministry by highlighting his personal deficiencies. In Greek culture image was everything, and so Paul was an easy target (short, hunchbacked, beak-nosed, balding, and add to that a deformed eye). Yet, instead of going on the defensive by drawing comparisons to prop up his image, Paul simply says, “You’re right.” In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul writes, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay” to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” He says, “You’re right, I’m just a clay pot (read chamber pot).” Nobody knew Paul’s deficiencies better than Paul, so he gladly acknowledges his weaknesses and celebrates God’s strength. Paul understood that getting over himself would help get the Gospel out, and in 2016 the same is true for us.

It does not matter how great the pressure is; what really matter is where the pressure lies. Whether it comes between you and God or presses you nearer to his heart.” – Hudson Taylor

2. Life Has Challenges, How We Respond Is Our Choice

This likely doesn’t come as a shock, but life is filled with challenges, yet with every challenge comes a choice. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Paul provides a menu of hardships: pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, but every one of these problems provides the opportunity to choose our response. Hudson Taylor put it this way, “It does not matter how great the pressure is; what really matter is where the pressure lies. Whether it comes between you and God or presses you nearer to his heart.”

We cannot alter the inevitability of life’s challenges, but the choice of how to respond is always ours. In the midst of 2016’s trials, remember that we get to choose.

3. Our Weaknesses Demonstrate God’s Strength

Though many difficulties are the product of bad decisions, sin or just plain selfishness, we should be careful to remember that some trouble comes our way simply because we are Christians. Reminiscent of what we read in Ephesians 6:12, Paul reminds us that following Jesus makes you a target for Satan’s attack. Yet the good news is that our inability to do battle with the enemy on our own becomes an opportunity for God to display his power. How might our challenges in 2016 manifest Jesus’ life to those around us?

4. Trust God Today and Anticipate His Goodness Tomorrow

In verses 13-15, Paul begins to speak directly to the perspective we will carry into the year ahead. Here Paul quotes the Psalmist (Psalm 116) as he moves from a call for help, to a shout of praise. This Psalm and Paul’s words showcase the vital importance of what we speak. In 2016 it is essential that we choose to embrace a faith-filled perspective that anticipates God’s goodness!

5. Spiritual Strength Will Carry You Further Than Physical Strength

What keeps Paul from throwing in the towel? What keeps him strong? In verse 16 he says that he has prioritized inward over outward, which reminds us that not all resolutions are created equal. Exercising is good, nutrition is important, watching your weight is wise, but in 2016 no amount of boot camp, vitamins, or dieting will make us stronger than spending time with Jesus.

6. What We Do Today Will Echo in Eternity

In verse 17 Paul writes, “For our light and momentary troubles…”, but for most of us the problems we face feel long and heavy not light and momentary. But once again, the Apostle Paul is calling us to shift our perspective. An eternal perspective is one of the powerful antidotes to being overwhelmed by 2016’s troubles.

7. We Will Find What We Look For In Life

Notice how Paul closes this thought. He concludes with a call for us to fix our eyes on Jesus. As we begin 2016, nothing will be more determinative for the course of the year ahead then what we choose to make our focus. Paul writes, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

It was one of the first really nice Saturdays. The sun was shining, the kids were outside playing and I was lying on the driveway with my head under a lawn mower changing the belt. Suddenly, without warning, I felt something slam into my shin. Seized with pain, I looked up to see that the wind had blown over our portable basketball goal. I shouted something along the lines of “Auuugggghhhhhrrrggghhhhhh!” My kids went scrambling inside yelling for mom, who, judging by the kids’ panic, probably thought I had spontaneously exploded. Ten minutes later, I limped into the house and as soon as I opened the door, I heard the sound of my kids’ voices passionately calling out to the Lord asking for their daddy’s leg to be healed. I’m still not sure how my leg wasn’t broken, other than the fact that I believe our heavenly Father delighted in the simple, faith-filled prayers offered to Him that Saturday.

Prayer. Some refer to it as our life line to God. The disciples begged to learn more about it. God loves it. Jesus models it. The church teaches it. And every Christian would hopefully say it’s important. So what can we do to help teach our children to pray? Here are a few steps that I would recommend to parents who desire to teach their kids to pray.

Pray

Praying parents yield praying kids. Galatians 6:7 says “You will always harvest what you plant.” If you want to gain a harvest of kids who pray, you need to sow into the ground by being a praying parent

Welcome Your Kids Into Your Prayer Time

A perfect, ideal day for me is one in which I have a period of uninterrupted time before my kids are awake. And with 5 kids, guess how often that happens? When you are spending time with the Lord, and one of your kids comes into the room, don’t ignore them or act as if they are a burden. Thank God for them and the divine appointment He has given you with your child, and include them. Even if they are just drawing a picture or reading a different book while you are praying and spending time with Jesus, you are modeling for them what it looks like to spend time in God’s presence.

Pray Often and Pray Quickly

Teach your kids that when a challenge, opportunity, or need presents itself, you stop everything and pray right away. This brings God’s presence and power into our situation and builds a connection for your kids between the answer and the request. Stop what you are doing and pray.

Practice Together

Anything that we want to grow in, we need to practice. The same applies for prayer. One of the greatest habits we have started as a family is praying together on Saturday nights. This is very informal. We play some worship music and spread out and just pray. The focus is always praying for the volunteers and pastor’s at church, for people to be saved, and for God to uses us as He chooses. Practicing prayer together as a family has probably had the biggest impact on our kids of anything in terms of developing their own personal prayer time.

Celebrating answered prayer will build your kids’ faith

Celebrate Answered Prayer

So many times we are quick to pray, but when the situation is resolved, we either take the credit ourselves or fail to connect the answer to our request. Be quick to celebrate God’s response to your prayers. It will build your kids’ faith as they see God moving in your family.

We all want our kids to grow up to love God with all their hearts, and teaching them to pray is one of the most foundational components of that virtue. There really isn’t a right or wrong way- it’s important just to start.

Share some of the ways you have found success teaching your kids to pray by leaving a comment below. We would love to hear what is making a difference for your family.