Contagious Praise
You always lift people up with your smile
Reference: Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. (Luke 18:43 NIV)
Explore: There’s a colleague at work who always makes me smile. He’s friendly, bubbly and has a brilliant sense of humour.
The other day I walked into an area where he was standing and automatically gravitated towards him. Upon greeting him he smiled and said, “You always lift people up with your smile, Linda.”
The funny thing is, I hadn’t even realised I had smiled. It was just that his presence brings joy to my being and so I must have expressed that outwardly through my smile.
Application: Our mood and our emotions are contagious. If someone is having a bad day then the people around them change their mood accordingly.
This doesn’t mean we always have to be joyful, it just means we need to be mindful of how we are making other people feel.
In Luke we read a passage that speaks of this contagious reaction.
Jesus heals a blind man and he starts praising God. Upon hearing his praise all the people around him follow.
Now, I know this man has just had something fairly significant happen to him, but imagine living in such a way that people just join in on the praise you are already exuding. There is no doubt that would add great joy to the world and greater connection to God.
Prayer: Lord, may I be so obvious in my praise to You that others feel inspired to add their own praise too. Amen.
What mood of yours is contagious today?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.
1 comment:
Dear Linda, I have really been inspired by your article; recommending that we should have the right countenance and attitude where ever we go because it will cheer and brighten people up. Jesus’ presence blessed, healed and delivered multitudes of people who were ready to receive Him where ever He went (Luke 18:15-17; Luke 18:35-43). As you rightly pointed out that you might not have been aware of your smile on your face; but by God’s grace, because of Christ who lives in us, He uses us by the power of His Spirit to witness to His people of His love, joy, peace, Salvation, miracles, healings, signs and wonders. It is a blessing to spend some quality time in worshippng our Lord God Almighty through Christ and reading our Holy Bible everyday; “Surely you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you.” (1 Corinthians 3:16; The New Testament, Today’s English Version). My Bible Study Lesson for this morning has really blessed me. “Vs 4, Come to the Lord the living stone rejected by man as wortless, but chosen by God as valuable. vs5 Come as living stones and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.” (1Peter 2:4-5; The New Testament. Today’s English Version). I look forward to continue in fellowshipping with you. I studied at South East Institute of Theological Education, University of Kent; from 2002-2007; one night per week. I achieved a Diploma in Theology. I’m the Vicar for Living Water of Christ Community Church, Gillingham, Kent, England. We are on Facebook. Please go into ‘Pages’ and you will find us there. God bless you, From Reverend Neneh Adama Wurie.