Praying For Healthy Relationships

 Relationships have taken a real hit during these long months of the pandemic and I thought it would be good to consider how to rebuild when things have painfully broken down.  Also, these principles help us, I believe, to maintain healthy loving relationships we are living in today.

There are always two partners in every relationship and each has a part to play in what goes well and when things go wrong.  To maintain a good relationship or to build back better after a breakdown it will take willingness and hard work from both partners.

While on earth, Jesus demonstrated how to live in a loving relationship.   At the heart of each day was Jesus consulting with His Father about everything He did. 

Just like Jesus, having a loving personal relationship with God, and consulting with Him about everything we do, is the foundation for our life in relationship with God and with others.

When we experience the love and peace that our relationship with God brings, then it’s much easier for our earthly relationships to be kept strong or to be renewed and restored when they do break down.

When we do experience the frustration and heartbreak of break downs in relationship, at first glance, restoration may seem impossible.  However, with God, all things are possible and that includes these precious relationships.

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.  Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  Philippians 2:1-4

Those verses had some practical steps for laying a healthy foundation for building solid relationships.  Looking at a website earlier I found this helpful list of some practical things we can do as well. 

·      Be attentive to what your partner is saying.

·      Show concern and compassion for one another.

·      Remember times that make you both laugh.

·      De-escalate conflict.

·      Don't bring up issues from the past.

·      Have a basic level of trust.

·      Be accountable for your actions and don't blame one another.

·      Turn your negative energy into something loving.

·      Spend time together.

Those are good practical tips but the bottom line is that to maintain or rebuild a healthy relationship we need God’s help.  Care and kindness comes from God.  Healing comes from God.  Patience and wisdom come from God.  We know how hard forgiveness is to give and receive and it clearly has to come from .

So, let’s come to God for His help in making and maintaining loving and caring relationships.

Gracious God, You know where healing is needed in our relationships.  Help us to let go of unrealistic expectations we put on others.  You are the one who meets our deepest needs.  All other healthy relationships have to be rooted in Your love.

Please give us understanding to know what kind of relationship we’re meant to have with others.  When things do break down, as they will in every relationship from time to time, help us to deal with what's going on, forgive one another, and make a fresh start at doing things well.  Help us to love one another as You love us. 

Although we love these famous words to be lived out by others as they relate to us, we pray that we will find the strength, in the power of Your Holy Spirit, to live them out with everyone we meet – particularly those for whom we closely relate.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Well, that is a great list of practical steps to consider in how we are acting and holding attitudes towards others.  Long before we require changes from others, we need to allow God to bring us to a place where we are a person who can relate as God intends.  Let’s do our best today to live in love.