PART 4: DEVELOPING MISSIONAL SPIRITUAL HABITS

Kingdom living requires intentional habits
of compassion, mercy, and justice.

In addition to prayer and Bible study, a healthy spiritual life includes love in action for the good of humanity and creation. Many people think we only grow close to God by withdrawing from the world and meditating more. However, Jesus invites us to meet Him in prayer and join Him in action. He wants us to grow closer to Him by getting closer to those He loves, especially the hurting, the overlooked, and the oppressed. That’s why Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

This section explores three spiritual habits that bring us closer to the heart of God: practicing compassion, showing mercy, and seeking justice. These practices go deeper than random acts of kindness or emotional reactions to what we see in front of us. They’re intentional acts of love that form our character and help us reflect Jesus to the world around us. Each one reveals something essential about who God is and who He’s calling us to become.

When we practice compassion, we recognize the pain of others with empathy and care. We slow down. We see people. And we show up with help. When we show mercy, we let go of judgment and extend undeserved kindness and second chances. Showing mercy even softens our own hearts and opens us to the same grace that God has shown us. When we seek justice (not retributive justice like punishment but restorative justice that joins God in making things right in the world), we move beyond giving out charity to asking deeper questions so that charity isn’t necessary. Why is this person suffering, and how can I stop it? What systems or patterns are keeping people in their suffering? What can we do to change it? Seeking justice puts us in step with God’s mission to restore what is broken.

These outward rhythms may feel unfamiliar, inconvenient, or even costly at first. But over time, they open us to God’s leading. They challenge our assumptions and shape our hearts to look more like Christ’s. Serving others is a vital and holy practice that continues to change us from the inside out.

To grow in love for others is to grow in love for God. And when we love others through compassion, mercy, and justice, we find ourselves walking more closely with Jesus, right into the heart of the kingdom of God.

Growing Closer to God

These spiritual practices will help you keep your relationship with God alive and healthy. Try one or more of the following each day:

Continue practicing listening prayer (Relax, Release, Receive).
Write down three things you’re grateful for today and thank God for them.
Consider the following three questions.
- Who needs compassion, and how can I respond?
- Who needs mercy, and how can I give it?
- Who needs justice, and how can I advocate for it?
Consider becoming a consistent volunteer somewhere in your church or community.

SWIPE

Reading 1

Practicing Compassion

Matthew 25:35–36, 40
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’… The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Compassion is entering someone’s suffering with care. It draws us closer to God by helping us reflect His tenderness and presence to those in pain.

New Thought for the Day
“God draws close to the brokenhearted. So I will, too.”

Reflect
Who is hurting or lonely today and how can you be present with compassion?

Prayer
Lord, open my heart to the people You see and love. Let me meet You today in the act of caring for someone else.

Reading 2

Compassion in Action

Luke 10:33–34
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Compassion moves us beyond having a feeling to taking action. It deepens our connection with God by teaching us to love the way He loves with tenderness and tangibility.

New Thought for the Day
“I will not just feel compassion. I will act on it, because that’s where God’s heart moves.”

Reflect
Where is God inviting you to move from awareness to action today?

Prayer
Jesus, give me eyes to see and the courage to act. Let my compassion reflect Yours in both words and deeds.

Reading 3

Showing Mercy

Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Mercy softens our hearts by letting go of judgment and extending grace. When we practice mercy, we make space for God’s Spirit to work through us and in us.

New Thought for the Day
“I will show mercy, trusting that God meets me in every act of grace I give away.”

Reflect
Who needs mercy from you today, even if they don’t deserve it?

Prayer
Merciful God, thank You for not giving me what I deserve. Help me offer the same mercy to others, with humility and love.

Reading 4

Mercy and Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21–22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Forgiveness is one of the clearest ways to experience and reflect the mercy of God. As we forgive, we release what holds us back and open ourselves to deeper intimacy with Him.

New Thought for the Day
“I will forgive as God has forgiven me—freely, deeply, and again and again.”

Reflect
What bitterness do you need to release so you can make space for mercy?

Prayer
Jesus, thank You for forgiving me beyond measure. Help me release what I’ve been holding so I can walk in freedom and love.

Reading 5

Seeking Justice

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

Isaiah 58:6-7
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Proverbs 21:3
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Justice is setting wrong things right. Seeking justice helps us align our lives with God’s heart for fairness, dignity, and restoration. It draws us closer to Him by moving us toward what matters most to Him.

New Thought for the Day
“I will seek justice because it brings me closer to the God who makes wrong things right.”

Reflect
Where do you see injustice, and what is one step you can take to respond?

Prayer
God of justice, stir my heart to see what breaks Yours. Show me how to act with courage, wisdom, and love.

Reading 6

Justice as a Lifestyle

Micah 6:8
He has shown you…what is good: to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the Lord says: ‘Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor, the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Justice becomes a spiritual habit when it shapes how we live, not just what we believe. Living justly helps us walk humbly and closely with the God who defends the vulnerable.

New Thought for the Day
“I will make justice a daily practice because it brings me into step with God’s heart.”

Reflect
What everyday choice can you make today to live more justly and humbly?

Prayer
Lord, make me a person of justice. Let my habits reflect Your love for the least and Your call to righteousness.

Reading 7

Growing Through Service

Mark 10:45
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Serving others is not just good. It’s formative. As we serve with humility, we discover more of God’s presence, character, and joy.

New Thought for the Day:
“I will serve like Jesus, not to impress, but to grow closer to God through love.”

Reflect
Who can you serve today in a way that stretches your heart toward Christlikeness?

Prayer
Jesus, shape me through service. As I give myself away, help me find more of You.