If you will be a

   servant to this people

                    today

and serve them,

and speak good words to them

    when you answer them,

then they will be

          your servants forever.

                  1 Kings 12. 7

(How we respond to others

      reflects our hearts.

How we see circumstances

          and treat others

   reflects how we see God.

And in this ancient situation,

encouraging words

   and a different approach

  would have literally changed

        the course of history.

Have I considered

   how to navigate this struggle,

   these difficult circumstances,

   these impossible people

                         differently

   because I love God

   and follow Him into it?

What is a new response?

Grace takes everyone by surprise.

And kind words never wear out.

A servant heart

is the highest form of leadership.)

O LORD,

Help us to worship You

by how we respond to others.

May gracious,

       redemptive,

       encouraging words

be hallmarks of our vocabulary

  and identify us as Yours.

Show us

       how to serve in this situation,

 to come with healing

             to the table,

and bring the name of Jesus here

      by what we say and do.