Alfred Adler is known as one of the “founding fathers” of modern psychology. He is remembered mostly for his analysis of the impact of “birth order” – the “position” or “place” we have with our siblings, and how that influences our personality. He also developed what he called his “Fourteen-Day Cure Plan.” 

He claimed that this plan could cure anyone of mental illness in just fourteen days if they would just do exactly as he told them to do. For example - one day, a woman who was extremely depressed came to see him. He told her, “I can cure you of your depression in just fourteen days if you follow my advice.” 

“What do you want me to do?” she asked. 

“If you do one thing for someone else every day for fourteen days, at the end of that time, your depression will be cured,” he told her.  

She objected, “Why should I do something for someone else when no one ever does anything for me?” 

Jokingly he responded, “Well, I guess because you are different, it will take you twenty-eight days. Adler realized that because she was so self-centered, there was little hope for her to change her behavior, and think of others rather than herself, and find relief.  

Paul said that we are to “share each other's problems and troubles.” Christians must never develop an attitude that entertains the idea that we are not responsible for helping others in their times of need. It is sometimes difficult to think of “service before self.” But that is the way Jesus lived and died. As His disciples, can we do less?  

Prayer:  Lord, may we move from an attitude of self-centeredness to one of other-centeredness and see, hear, feel, and meet the needs of others as Your Son did. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today: Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 

Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know! 

Alfred Adler is known as one of the “founding fathers” of modern psychology. He is remembered mostly for his analysis of the impact of “birth order” – the “position” or “place” we have with our siblings, and how that influences our personality. He also developed what he called his “Fourteen-Day Cure Plan.” 

He claimed that this plan could cure anyone of mental illness in just fourteen days if they would just do exactly as he told them to do. For example - one day, a woman who was extremely depressed came to see him. He told her, “I can cure you of your depression in just fourteen days if you follow my advice.” 

“What do you want me to do?” she asked. 

“If you do one thing for someone else every day for fourteen days, at the end of that time, your depression will be cured,” he told her.  

She objected, “Why should I do something for someone else when no one ever does anything for me?” 

Jokingly he responded, “Well, I guess because you are different, it will take you twenty-eight days. Adler realized that because she was so self-centered, there was little hope for her to change her behavior, and think of others rather than herself, and find relief.  

Paul said that we are to “share each other's problems and troubles.” Christians must never develop an attitude that entertains the idea that we are not responsible for helping others in their times of need. It is sometimes difficult to think of “service before self.” But that is the way Jesus lived and died. As His disciples, can we do less?  

Prayer:  Lord, may we move from an attitude of self-centeredness to one of other-centeredness and see, hear, feel, and meet the needs of others as Your Son did. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today: Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 

Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know! 

A soldier was assigned the responsibility of driving a senator from the airport to a military installation. Between the baggage claim area and the vehicle, he noticed an elderly lady struggling to pull her suitcase behind her. He immediately went to her rescue and pulled the bag until they met her waiting family. He then paused to help a young mother secure her child in a stroller. After that, he helped a man who was having a difficult time opening the door to the restroom. 

Impressed, the senator asked, “How is it that you see so many people who need help and immediately go to their rescue?” 

After a moment of silence, he replied quietly, “During my tour of duty in Vietnam, it was my job to clear minefields. I never knew if my next step would be my last. It was there that I learned to get the most out of every moment because, in life, it’s now or never.”  

Paul summed it up this way: “Share each other’s troubles and problems because if you do so, you will obey the law of Christ.” We, as Christians, have a responsibility to God and to others who are faced with a difficult situation, to help them in their time of need. It can be as simple as opening a door or as complex as helping them through the loss of a loved one. 

The size of the problem does not matter to God. What matters most to Him is the willingness of His children to help those in need. 

Prayer:  We pray, Lord, for eyes that see the needs of others, ears that hear the cries of others, hearts that are open to others, and hands that are willing to help others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today: Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 

Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know! 

A soldier was assigned the responsibility of driving a senator from the airport to a military installation. Between the baggage claim area and the vehicle, he noticed an elderly lady struggling to pull her suitcase behind her. He immediately went to her rescue and pulled the bag until they met her waiting family. He then paused to help a young mother secure her child in a stroller. After that, he helped a man who was having a difficult time opening the door to the restroom. 

Impressed, the senator asked, “How is it that you see so many people who need help and immediately go to their rescue?” 

After a moment of silence, he replied quietly, “During my tour of duty in Vietnam, it was my job to clear minefields. I never knew if my next step would be my last. It was there that I learned to get the most out of every moment because, in life, it’s now or never.”  

Paul summed it up this way: “Share each other’s troubles and problems because if you do so, you will obey the law of Christ.” We, as Christians, have a responsibility to God and to others who are faced with a difficult situation, to help them in their time of need. It can be as simple as opening a door or as complex as helping them through the loss of a loved one. 

The size of the problem does not matter to God. What matters most to Him is the willingness of His children to help those in need. 

Prayer:  We pray, Lord, for eyes that see the needs of others, ears that hear the cries of others, hearts that are open to others, and hands that are willing to help others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Scripture For Today: Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 

Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know! 

Alfred Adler is known as one of the “founding fathers” of modern psychology. He is remembered mostly for his analysis of the impact of birth order on personality and what he called his “Fourteen-Day Cure Plan.” He claimed that his plan could cure anyone of mental illness in just fourteen days if they would just do exactly as he told them to do.

One day a woman who was extremely depressed came to see him. He told her, “I can cure you of your depression in just fourteen days if you will follow my advice.”

“What do you want me to do?” she asked.

“If you will do one thing for someone else every day for fourteen days, at the end of that time your depression will be gone,” he told her.

She objected, “Why should I do something for someone else when no one ever does anything for me?”

Jokingly he responded, “Well, maybe it will take you twenty-one days.”

He knew that if she did something for someone she would be on her way toward improving her mental condition and “curing” her depression.

Paul said that we are to “share each others problems and troubles.” Christians must never develop an attitude that entertains the idea that we are excused from the task of helping others. It is sometimes difficult to think of “service before self.” But that is the way Jesus lived and died. As His disciples, can we do less?

Prayer: Lord, may we move from an attitude of self-centeredness to one of other-centeredness and see, hear, feel and meet the needs of others as You did. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

A soldier was assigned the responsibility of driving a senator from the airport to a military installation. Between the baggage claim area and the vehicle he noticed an elderly lady struggling to pull her suitcase behind her. He immediately went to her rescue and pulled the suitcase until they met her waiting family. He then paused to help a young mother secure her child in a stroller. After that he helped a man who was having a difficult time opening the door to the restroom.

Impressed, the senator asked, “How is it that you see so many people who need help and immediately go to their rescue?”

After a moment of silence he replied quietly, “During my tour of duty in Vietnam it was my job to clear minefields. I never knew if my next step would be my last. It was there that I learned to get the most out of every moment because, in life, it’s now or never.”

Paul summed it up this way: “Share each other’s troubles and problems because if you do so you will obey the law of Christ.” We, as Christians, have a responsibility to God and to anyone we know who is faced with a difficult situation that is beyond their ability to manage. It can be as simple as opening a door or as complex as helping them through the loss of a loved one.

The size of the problem does not matter to God. It is the willingness of His children to help those in need.

Prayer: We pray, Lord, for eyes that see the needs of others, ears that hear the cries of others, a heart that is open to others and hands that are willing to help others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

A world famous surgeon was being interviewed by a television reporter for a series on the advances being made in the medical profession. Coming to the last question, the reporter asked,

"Tell me doctor, what is your greatest fear?"

After thinking for a moment, he replied, "That I may no longer feel the pains of my patients."
For him, feeling was essential if he was to help others. It moved him as he performed surgery on those in need of healing.

Sympathy is meant to stir us to service, to help us see the needs of others and to move us into action. Without sympathy we would do little to help the least, the last and the lost.

Paul said, "Share each others troubles and problems." Sympathy enables us to see the needs that others have and do something about them. It is the very foundation from which love and obedience to fulfill the commandments of Christ flows.

No Christian should ever feel that they are beyond the requirement of or excused from helping and praying for others. At all times and in all situations we are to be alert to the needs of others and respond as Jesus did.

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes that we might see the things that You saw and be moved by the things that moved You and then do as You did in love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.