John 3:16 Amplified Bible (AMP) 16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a] unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.


The beauty of this scripture is that it confirms that complimenting others, a principle that I am very fond of, evolved from God. It also confirms that the power of the principle is two fold.

To compliment is the action of giving that which completes and/or fills up.  A complement is that which completes and/or fills up. God’s unconditional love inspired him to compliment us with the complement that completes us, validates us, and makes us whole. This is certainly a principle that we should mimic.

One of the most encouraging aspects of true relational communication on any level is the exchange of complements – genuine, from the heart complements that verbally communicate to others that they are valued. There is no greater feeling than to feel valued or have personal value validated by another.

However, too often in today’s society, I have witnessed people complimenting others in ways that are intended to secretly destroy, demean, and belittle; I have heard complements that are condescending, patronizing, and rooted in motives of jealously and insult. I have developed an open hatred for this type of complimenting because it misconstrues what I believe God demonstrated when He gave us “The Word," the ultimate complement.

“I like your lil’ new dress,” is an example of complimenting with such a complement.   At the surface level it appears that nothing is wrong with this phrase, but upon closer examination, its motive and its meaning are twisted. The verb like means to take pleasure in; however, the adjective little means, to make little of. It sounds as if the speaker is saying; “I take pleasure in your new dress.” What is actually being communicated is, “I take pleasure in and make little of your new dress because I don’t have one myself,” or “I take pleasure in making little of your new dress to make you think that I am complimenting you, but really I am laughing at you." "You look pretty with your make up on," and "You are handsome now that you've lost weight" are a few similar twisted complements that were given to me by a friend after she read this devotion.   

A comparison of these entities creates an awareness that often escapes many.  If you have ever walked away from a complement feeling unsure or perhaps even put down, you understand firsthand my strong dislike of this “off brand” complimenting.  In His unconditional love for us, God gave us His all. The psalmist David said, I would never offer sacrifices unto God that cost me nothing.  A person filled with hate, ill will, and trickery loses nothing to offer patronizing complements.  The recipient only feels the hurt, the person who thinks he/she is getting God’s example of what a complement should be. 

Stop right now and think about the complimenting you’ve done recently.   If any part of your complement was given for any reason other than edification, you have some confessing to do.  From now on, lets compliment others with complements that validate the God on the inside of us and provide Godly value to our brothers and sisters.   

Amen. 

When I was just a babe in Christ, I was taught the acronym A.C.T.S. It was taught to me as a method of daily communing with God.  I believe it to be effective; therefore, I have never forgotten it.  I have attached my own personal prayer to it as an example to perhaps help and guide others.  My prayer is that you benefit as much from the acronym (ACTS) as I have.  My hope is that you find my personal prayer useful as an example.  My request is that you take the acronym and make it your own; take my example, and incorporate your own life, your own purpose into words.  My desire is that once you do, God will meet you at place where you need Him.  Blessings to All!  


ACKNOWLEDGE: God, I bless you for waking me up this morning.  You are the awesome animator and illuminator of every breath I take in this life and the next. Giver of my salvation, gifts, talents, purpose, destiny, provision, and inspiration, I bless you!

CONFESS: I humbly and thankful approach you this morning. Willingly yielding my life as an open book because I know that you require a cheerful giver in me.  Laying my sins of omission and commission before you.  Desiring first and foremost your forgiveness, your approval, your presence. Turn your search light upon the totality of my being.  Let no stone be unturned, let no skeleton remain in the closet of my life, let no secrets remain in this eternal conversation that is my journey, let it all be revealed to you in this moment for you knew me before I was in my mother’s womb; you fashioned me even when I was there.  You know every part of me. You know the purpose for which you created me.  

THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your PRESENCE in my life: past, present, and future.  As far back as the days that you kept me before I knew you or wanted to on to salvation and learning to walk this Christ walk with integrity, to the last word, mistake, and/or lesson learned that radically changed my life and even to this moment you have been with me.  Desiring to fulfill your plan in me, leading me, guiding me, challenging me, changing me, correcting me, chastising me, and comforting me you never let me go.  When I consider it all, taking inventory of the life that you’ve given me, how can I not desire to give it back to you with a heart of gratefulness in a capacity that blesses your heart. 

SUPPLICATION: Father, I offer this prayer sincerely and in humility.  Because I do, your word tells me that you will give me the desires of my heart in accordance with your will.  Therefore, I acknowledge you as Lord and Savior of my life, I confess my sins unto you and receive the fullness of your forgiveness; I am thankful beyond measure, and my supplication, my plea, my desire, my request is this: Breathe on me, inspire me, encourage me, to use every gift, every lesson learned, every fiber of my being to full capacity to the accomplishing of my purpose for your kingdom purpose.  Guide me with your Spirit, with your Word, and with your Conviction.  Help me to be more effective today from this moment on than I have ever been in my life.  Allow your Super to rest upon my natural bringing Glory to your name and creating prosperity for me so that I can continue to reciprocate the blessings and comforts you’ve bestowed upon me.  Grant me love and wisdom that I may use for the purpose of inspiring your people to unlock their individual potential and purpose in you.  Let my relationship with you produce the overflow of these things along with True Worship, Inspiration, Teaching, Healing, Etc.  Continuously remind me of the Humility to say ‘Thank You’, and to return all Glory back to you.  Each morning that I awake on this side of eternity, allow me to enter into your gates with this demeanor of thanksgiving and into your courts with this capacity of praise. And when I awake on the other side of eternity, may the life that I have lived grant me acceptance into your presence where I may lay my crowns at you feet. 

This is my prayer to you Lord, Amen!