Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4

This morning, I came across this verse and found myself asking “What can you do for others today?” It’s a simple question, but not one I consciously ask very often. Allow me to be self-defensive for a moment and say that I do things for others, I simply don’t think before I do them. There are certain things I’ve just learned to do.

I’ll clear the dishes and load them in the dishwasher when I’m a guest in someone’s home. I’ll tell management when a public bathroom is out of paper towels. I’ll pick up a piece of glass I found in the parking lot. All seemingly small things, but they do make a difference to the person who would be left with a bunch of dishes to do, wet hands, or a piece of glass in their bike tire.

Nonetheless, I’m lacking a certain intentionality and openness to new things. When I asked myself, “What can I do for others today?” I found myself thinking beyond my instincts and cultivating new habits.

• Pray for someone, and let them know you did. This is a great way to lift someone up to God. I’m not saying you should tell someone each time you pray, but when someone lets me know that I was on their mind, it brightens my day and connects me to fellow believers.
• Send someone a card. Who doesn’t love getting snail mail in a digital world? It helps change the pace of our day-to-day culture and reminds us to hold onto the tangible.
•  Slow down. Sounds like it’s something for yourself, but slowing down helps everyone around you. When you are too busy to notice the people around you, you are too busy to demonstrate the love of Christ in how you respond. Take the time to answer honestly how you are doing and to listen to how a peer is doing. Take the time to stop and pray with a friend instead of just saying, “I’m praying for you!”

I thought of many things I could do in this moment, but my spirit reminded me that there is so much more that today will bring. Remain open, it prompted. You never know what opportunities God will put in front of you today.

Originally posted on RochesterSA.org.