“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 NIV

Want to see a shift in the way people treat you? A key to being treated better is to begin treating others the way you wish to be treated. This is a simple principle with profound impact if we all abide by it! See how that alters things for you. It may take time, but it’s time well spent!

Often the way we have been treated throughout our life impacts the way we regard others. By living a pay it forward lifestyle we can break the power and the cycle of how we’ve been treated throughout our life causing a dramatic shift in how others treat us moving forward!

Changing behavior can be difficult and seem impossible at times. It takes intentionality. But with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). I would challenge you today, grab hold of this simple scripture and make a fresh commitment to the Lord that you are going to be intentional with this. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23) so make this a daily priority where you come before the Lord each moring asking for fresh grace that you might “do to others as you want them to do to you”.

As I said, you are breaking a cycle here friend! If you have been asking God for others to judge you less, criticize you less, encourage you more, extend kindness and grace more, understand you more, etc.—pay it forward! If you feel like you’ve been spinning your tires in relationships maybe it’s time you take a proactive approach. Instead of focusing on how you wish others would treat you (or not treat you) go ahead and offer them the same treatment you are looking for in return.

One day I was desperate for encouragement! I was praying and asking God, “Please Lord, send someone to encourage me! A text… a phone call… an email… ANYTHING!!” I don’t know what it was about this particular day but I was feeling a little down and in need of some love. As I prayed the Lord gently revealed to me the key to my longing, He said, “Krissy, if its encouragement you want then offer encouragement to others.” From there He began revealing to me some friends to text and call and let them know I love them and was thinking of them. Turns out—THEY really needed some encouragement! How encouraging!! God is faithful.

In sum: be intentional, pay it forward, and be consistent. Give it a try! If it weren’t a key to victory in our lives and in relationships Jesus wouldn’t have said it!

I love you!
Krissy

P.S. How can I be praying for you today?