Harmony and Empathy Go Together

[Harmony and Empathy Go Together]( Current Teaching Series [The Awesome Power of Vision]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [Harmony and Empathy Go Together]( By Rick Warren — 02/18/2022 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email]( “Be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV) Do you want to maintain harmony in your home and reduce the number of conflicts in your relationships? Then be sensitive and empathetic to how your words and actions affect others. The Bible says, “Never do anything that might hurt others—Jews, Greeks, or God’s church” (1 Corinthians 10:32 NCV). This principle of being sensitive to when people get offended is more important than ever, because it seems like everybody’s got a chip on their shoulder these days. We all get offended easily, and we all offend others easily. The solution to that in relationships is to pour grace into any situation so that you aren’t so easily offended—and then to become sensitive about the things that hurt or discourage others. Imagine how your relationships could change by simply doing those two things! But it requires that you admit you’re often insensitive to the impact of your words and your actions. Can you admit that you’ve sometimes been insensitive to your spouse or that you’ve not been empathetic to your colleague or that you’re just not as thoughtful as you think you are? It’s easy to quickly think of five things that other people do to offend you. But can you name five things you do that offend your spouse, friend, or co-worker? If not, then you can always ask them. They’ll be glad to tell you! Being more sensitive will also help you obey the Bible in another area. Jesus said in Matthew 5:25, “Settle matters quickly with your adversary” (NIV). This is a principle you need in every relationship in your life. To resolve conflict more easily and quickly, you need to do two things. First, think before you speak. Second, focus more on listening than on getting your point across. It’s human nature to first think of how you are offended rather than of how your words and actions affect others. But maintaining harmony requires you to be empathetic instead of defensive when you hurt someone else. “Be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8 NIV). Harmony and empathy will always go together. If you want one, you have to have the other! [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - What is more important to you—being understood or being understanding? Why? - How does thinking before you speak help you avoid or resolve conflict? - Do you consider yourself an empathetic person? How can you learn to be more empathetic? Have you trusted God’s promise of salvation? If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, then pray this prayer: “Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day. “I confess my sin, and I receive you into my life as my Lord and Savior. Today, I’m turning every part of my life over to you. I want to follow you and do what you tell me to do. “Jesus, I am grateful for your love and for your sacrifice that makes it possible for me to join you in heaven. I know I don’t deserve it. And I thank you that I don’t have to earn or work for my salvation, because I know that is impossible. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I humbly commit my life to you, and I ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus. The post [Harmony and Empathy Go Together]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email]( [Get Going Deeper with God: A Personal Renewal Retreat when you give a gift to support Daily Hope!]( How are you doing spiritually right now? Maybe it feels like you’re in a desert or just going through the motions. Maybe you’ve lost your joy. No matter how you feel, Pastor Rick wants to help you experience new life in your relationship with God. That’s why he created this brand-new resource called, Going Deeper with God: A Personal Renewal Retreat. Through this very special audio and workbook series, Pastor Rick will personally lead you on a journey to help you experience true spiritual renewal as God restores your joy, and refreshes, reinvigorates, and revives your spiritual life. [LEARN MORE]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 6 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series The Awesome Power of Vision. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: Seeing Your Future with Faith, Not Fear Message 2: When You Need a Fresh Start Message 3: Christ’s Vision: A Unified Family Message 4: My Part in Fulfilling Christ’s Vision Message 5: Maintaining Harmony In My Home, Small Group, and Church Message 6: What Seeds Will You Plant This Spring? [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com]( Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.]( As the founding pastor of Saddleback Church with his wife Kay, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000-member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As an author, his book [The Purpose Driven Life]( is one of the best-selling nonfiction books in publishing history. It has been translated into 74 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. His book [The Purpose Driven Church]( was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the century. Rick also founded [The PEACE Plan]( to address five global issues—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. You can listen to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope, his daily 25-minute audio teaching, and sign up for his free daily devotionals at [PastorRick.com](. © 2022 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, 23182 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, United States