Welcome to This Is The Way podcast episode 29! Today we're talking about how you can't be kind if you're not content.

For me, the best way to start the morning is no phone. Not because the phone is evil, but because of how I typically use the phone. I use the phone in such a way that it is super easy to get distracted from my real life and compare myself to others. When I begin my day with comparison, it kills any contentment I may have had. When I am not content, I compare. When I compare, I am not kind.

When I start my day with silence and solitude, I rest my soul in God's love and grace. I am more aware of my calling and God's purpose for my life. When you start your day with fruit, you're healthier. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. When you start your day with junk food, you will feel groggy, you will lose motivation to make the right decision later in the day, and it's a downward spiral. This is why I can't have my quiet time at night. Every time I do that, I find myself just complaining to God about my bad attitude and apologizing for all the stupid things I did that day. If you start your day with the junk food of the flesh you're inviting sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these.

If you want to be kind, be content. If you're going to start your day right, don't compare. Start with the fruit of the Spirit. Don't eat junk food for breakfast.

Here's a prayer from Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

when there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand,

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life.

If you have a thought, prayer or prayer request please leave a voicemail here. 

I'm looking for people to give little (5min) devotional this month on solitude of kindness.  If you're interested or know someone who might be, let me know: [email protected]

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