Check out all the previous Ripple Effect readings here.
Ripple Effect Reading | Week 3 | Day 4
Prayer
Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Ask God to give you His wisdom today.
Bible Reading: Galatians 6:9
Read these verses three times slowly.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Reflection & Questions
Did you know there is a ‘good tired’ and a ‘bad tired’? You have likely experienced the difference. There’s the tiredness after accomplishing a goal or finishing a project. This tiredness has a satisfaction to it. You are tired but pleased. Needing to rest, but you have a sense of accomplishment. This is ‘good tired.’ ‘Bad tired’ is missing that sense of satisfaction, pleasure and accomplishment. You can experience ‘bad tired’ when you’ve been battling without success or when you’ve not really been battling at all (you’re on the sidelines whether by your own choice or not).
In the letter to the Galatians, Paul wants to warn them from growing ‘weary.’ It’s a ‘bad tired’ thing. Paul doesn’t shy away from the fact that serving can lead to this. That there may be days or seasons, where we don’t have a sense of satisfaction, pleasure or accomplishment in our serving. We wonder if we’re making a difference. We get beat down by the difficulties and challenges of ministering to others. The reality is that sometimes serving, making ripple effects, feels fruitless and leads to a ‘bad tired’ feeling. But Paul’s encouragement is ‘keep going’. Don’t give up doing good works. Keep serving. Keep making a difference. Because “at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” That’s a promise. Our serving will make a difference. There will be a ripple effect.
- Are you feeling weary in serving? If so, what is causing that weariness?
- How would you encourage a believer who is feeling weary in serving others?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
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Questions?
Ed Applegate
