Empathy:

6 Skills You Need for this Season

Over the course of five days, you’ll see a daily post with a devotion helping you explore the role of empathy at this time. It follows a similar pattern to the “God is with Us” devotional.

You won’t get a daily email. Simply know the devotional is here waiting for you for the next six days. Instead of a written devotional, this is a video devotional. The scripture, prayer, and questions for reflection are listed below.

Today, let’s explore the final skill of empathy: integration. There is no video, simply an opportunity for you to integrate the previous five skills.

Skill 6: Integration

Today, we pause to consider the previous five days, integrating what we’re learning and how we’re seeing Jesus with three questions. As you consider the six skills that make up empathy and how the scripture passages brought these myths to light, respond to the following questions:

Thoughts

What are you thinking as a result of what you read, reflected on, and responded to each day? Specifically, what are you thinking about the emotions you were asked to consider this week?

Feelings

What are you feeling as a result of what you read, reflected on, and responded to each day? Specifically, what are you feeling about the emotions you were asked to consider this week?

Actions

What are you doing as a result of what you read, reflected on, and responded to each day? Specifically, what are you doing about the emotions you were asked to consider this week?

Where is there overlap in your answers? Wholehearted disciples practice uniting what they think, feel, and do. If your thoughts, actions, and feelings are not in alignment with one another, keep practicing! You’re on a journey of following Jesus.

What emotion(s) do you need to embrace more in your thinking? What emotions do you suppress feeling? What emotions do you tend to act out in your behavior? (As a reminder, emotions don’t dictate your actions.)

Want to Dig Deeper? – Join the practice of TGIF

Who or what are you trusting?
For whom or what are you grateful?
Who or what is inspiring you?
How are you practicing faith?

Pray

Good and gracious God, thank you for a mind to think, emotions to feel, and hands and feet to propel me to act. Guide me in all I say, do, and feel, so others may witness your grace. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.