Better Together Devotional: Show Kindness by Author and Board Member Stacy A. Davis

Family Fun Icebreaker: How do you like to show kindness?

Topic Question: What is the Right Lifestyle in God’s Community?

Today’s Big Idea: Integrity

As you spend time reading God’s Word and learning His ways, God’s Holy Spirit will work on your heart, teaching you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God changes you for the better. God shares in scripture that it is important to guard your heart. He says, “the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them” (Matthew 15:18 [NLT]). The integrity, or good moral character, in your heart can been seen from the words that you choose to say. If you lack integrity, that is heard in your words. Today, many people struggle with being respectful of other people. Speaking respectfully to the people closest to you, in your immediate family, for example, can be your biggest challenge. God tells you that you can either build up those in your house or tear them down (Proverb 14:1). It is a choice. If you are wise, you choose to build up those around you.

Talk with God: Read the scripture aloud.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Walk with God: Read aloud and discuss.

To live life always doing the right thing can seem difficult. Sometimes, you just don’t feel like having good behavior. The self-centered lifestyle you kept before trusting Jesus can creep back into your mind, tempting you to fall back into your old ways. The good news God shares is that His Spirit will help you! If you call on Him and ask for His help, He will help you be strong and do the right thing. Over time, good integrity in your heart will lead to a good and solid lifestyle, earning the respect of others around you.

Discuss with your family: Do you struggle with integrity in your conversations by being disrespectful? If you do, what are some ways that you can encourage respect for others? If it is not a struggle, what is your favorite way to build others up?

Prayer suggestion: Pray for God to encourage your good moral character.