When some of our kids were younger, they were known to be absolute angels when at school, yet all their angelicness seemed to disappear on coming home. I would ask in exasperation why they were so good at school but seemed to find it so difficult to be nice once they arrived home? They'd tell me it was because they'd used up all their niceness during the day.
Perhaps we all feel to some degree like we've used up all of our niceness at times. Perhaps because being nice and treating others with kindness takes courage – courage and a choice to live out the best version of ourselves. Courage even when that means risking loss or rejection in offering our kindness and choosing to be consistently nice even if others around us aren't.
The bible says, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32) But that's difficult to do all the time unless we open our hearts to receive God's love. The more we yield to Him, the more His love flows into and through our lives. Then being nice and treating others with kindness becomes a natural part of who we are.
It's like God takes out all the sticky, rough bits in us so that when we get around or up close to others, we don't damage ourselves or them.
The bible says, "this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love." (Romans 5:5)
If you're struggling to be "nice", ask God to remind you of who you are in Him and what He says about you. Then make a decision to spend time everyday in His presence so that His love can fill your heart.
Jesus says you are fantastic, kind, and one of the nicest people. The more you receive and realise you are a new creation in Him, the easier it is to be nice. It will just start to flow out of you.
"For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Romans 5:5)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Prayer: Lord, thank you that I don't have to go through life trying to be nice alone. When I open my life up to you, your goodness and love floods my heart. Please help me every day to take the opportunity to show kindness and to be nicer to others, because not only do other people like that, they also need it. In Jesus name Amen
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