God intended for us to have friends… that is why He created people, besides the two of you! He created human beings to have fellowship with Him & with other people. I have heard many people say, “I don’t need friends! They are too much work!!” In the Circle of Life, we must have a circle of friends… some closer than the others. Often men have fewer close friends than women. When men meet, they talk about sports, cars, the “glory” days, music, politics, etc. When women meet, they talk about “anything & everything!”––their latest diet, their dreams, about their children, their marital issues, school days, the latest fashion, the best salon, menopause (“Men-are-on-pause”!) etc.
Pray about ALL your relationships. We must cultivate good relationships with our parents, brothers & sisters, aunts & uncles, cousins, co-workers, friends, and neighbours. We must practice forgiveness & peace with everyone… even our enemy! Now that’s a tough one!! But God instructs us in His Word that we are to “love our enemies” and “do good to those who hate us” (Luke 6:27). It is only when we forgive others that we will be forgiven.
Be Christ-like. Jesus forgave Peter, who after being with Him for 3 years, denied Him 3 times! Jesus told Peter to forgive those who sinned against him… seventy times seven! When He was on the cross, He prayed to His Father and said, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they are doing!”
Forgiveness & reconciliation builds bridges.
PRAYER
Lord, we pray for strong, peaceful relationships with each of our family members, neighbours, acquaintances, and coworkers. Today, we specifically pray for our marriage: that we will grow old together, “till death do us part.” Help us to forgive each other every day. We also pray for our relationship with our children. Help us to forgive them for hurting us. Remove anger & bitterness from our hearts that have closed the door to their hearts. The enemy has come to kill, steal, and destroy the very foundation of our family. Inspire open communication and mutual acceptance among them. Let there be reconciliation where there has been estrangement. Work peace into any relationship that needs to be worked out. In Jesus’ Name… Amen!
POWER TOOLS
Ephesians 4:26 – 27 “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Matthew 5:23 – 24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
Ephesians 5:25 – 30 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.”
Ephesians 5:21 – 24 “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
ACTION STEP
Make yourselves a hot drink, sit down together and take time to be thankful for each relationship in your lives. Take turns to mention names and why you are thankful for them.
Mention at least 10 names each and pray an intentional prayer over their lives. Then take time and pray for each other and what your marriage holds. It’s good to always know where you stand as a couple and what values you hold most high in your relationship.
Pray about ALL your relationships. We must cultivate good relationships with our parents, brothers & sisters, aunts & uncles, cousins, co-workers, friends, and neighbours. We must practice forgiveness & peace with everyone… even our enemy! Now that’s a tough one!! But God instructs us in His Word that we are to “love our enemies” and “do good to those who hate us” (Luke 6:27). It is only when we forgive others that we will be forgiven.
Be Christ-like. Jesus forgave Peter, who after being with Him for 3 years, denied Him 3 times! Jesus told Peter to forgive those who sinned against him… seventy times seven! When He was on the cross, He prayed to His Father and said, “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they are doing!”
Forgiveness & reconciliation builds bridges.
PRAYER
Lord, we pray for strong, peaceful relationships with each of our family members, neighbours, acquaintances, and coworkers. Today, we specifically pray for our marriage: that we will grow old together, “till death do us part.” Help us to forgive each other every day. We also pray for our relationship with our children. Help us to forgive them for hurting us. Remove anger & bitterness from our hearts that have closed the door to their hearts. The enemy has come to kill, steal, and destroy the very foundation of our family. Inspire open communication and mutual acceptance among them. Let there be reconciliation where there has been estrangement. Work peace into any relationship that needs to be worked out. In Jesus’ Name… Amen!
POWER TOOLS
Ephesians 4:26 – 27 “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Matthew 5:23 – 24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
Ephesians 5:25 – 30 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.”
Ephesians 5:21 – 24 “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
ACTION STEP
Make yourselves a hot drink, sit down together and take time to be thankful for each relationship in your lives. Take turns to mention names and why you are thankful for them.
Mention at least 10 names each and pray an intentional prayer over their lives. Then take time and pray for each other and what your marriage holds. It’s good to always know where you stand as a couple and what values you hold most high in your relationship.