Peaceful Relationships Through Humility

 Au P AuddEACEFUL RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH HUMILITY

If we want to experience healthy and joyful relationships with God and with others each day of our lives, we will have to be willing to change our former ways.  We know we cannot fix ourselves.   Our confidence in the ability to change is based on the truth that when we humbly come to God and ask Him to remove our character defects He will do so. 

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come close to God, and God will come close to you.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. (James 4:6-8, 10 NLT)

A problem many of us experience is – we are willing to have God remove some of our defects of character but are not willing to admit that we have others we want to hold on to.  We assume we are finished with our restoration, but as long as we have difficulty in any relationship, there remains a work that God wants to do in us, if we will permit Him to do so.

Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.  (2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT)

A life of joy and peace is more evident in those who are humble because they are willing to have blind spots revealed to them.  They seek God’s help and the help of sponsors or others to work through the tougher issues of their hearts.  Humble people are peaceful, thankful people because they recognize the journey is progress not perfection.  They leave their stubborn pride behind and come close to God, who alone can save and restore them.  They are willing to have God reveal to them what the root of each problem is that arises, and deal with it in God’s way. 

God forgives.  God heals.  God encourages.  God makes a way of peace and harmony available to those who are willing to have Him reveal and remove character defects that are visible.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me.  Amen