Prepare Me to Do Good – Read Gal. 6:9-10

Special thanks to Melinda J. Dula, whose leadership on a morning prayer call inspired this writing.

On any number of occasions, I have declared, both privately and publicly, that one of my passions is to disciple women in their life call and purpose. I have a deep sense of calling to walk with women of all ages as they discover a more significant relationship with the Lord and uncover a complete understanding of themselves.

One morning, a dear friend of mine led a prayer call during which she admonished us to remember the words and significance of the apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10 NKJV). Within twenty-four hours of that morning prayer call, I received communication from three different women. They had differing circumstances—grief, depression, and offense. They were at different ages and stages of their lives—young and not-so-young. But what they all had in common was a real need for understanding, help, and support.

As I made myself available to these women, I prayed that God would endow me with a grace that far exceeded my experience and wisdom. I needed His grace to fill my heart with compassion and my mouth with kindness. I needed the grace to recognize that I would be the one in need were it not for Him. And, yes, I needed the grace to know that I am not exempt from having to walk the same path at some future point within a moment’s notice. And suddenly, it hit me that I now stood faced with an opportunity to do good.

Doing good does not mean we will have all the answers, nor will we have a solution for each person’s need. Doing good certainly does not mean that we are experts in human psychology. But doing good does mean that we will go out of our way to make room in our day and in our heart to be a listening ear, a thoughtful dispenser of counsel, and a bridge for one to walk from darkness to light.

Today I invite you to join me in praying, “Lord, prepare me to do good today and every day, not just to those within my faith family who make up my spiritual family tree but even to those who may not acknowledge or even want You at present.” Regardless of who they are, we can do good to them and for them. Because, as my dear friend admonished us, quoting the great John Wesley, we should “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.”

Copyright © 2021, D’Ann V. Johnson