Step 8 - Became Willing To Make Amends

God’s heart is for us to enjoy loving and caring relationships with others.  We have much to learn in this area.  For a long time we’ve blamed others for the way they treated us.  However, we have not been mindful of how our behaviour harmed others.  Transformation in our lives only comes when our words and actions conform to the principles contained in God's word.

We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

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. Matthew 5:23-24

It’s challenging to write down the name of each person with whom we have had a painful relationship and seek to know and own our part in whatever happened. 

God knows completely about each painful and fearful memory we have whether we were aware of Him being with us at the time the incident happened or not.  Knowing this makes it easier for us to face those memories.  God already knows what happened.  He knows the impact it had on us and others and He’s longing to help each of us do what is right to get things sorted out and healed.  God knows. God cares.  God not only heals but will make something good out of even the most traumatic events. 

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 1 John 4:7-8, 20

It's time to turn from the wounding and the blaming and look to God for His guidance in rebuilding healthy relationships.  Others have failed us and we have failed others too. As we receive healing and comfort from God, we’ll become secure enough to forgive others who have harmed us and acknowledge our own failure to act in loving ways.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for creating us to live in loving relationship with You and others.  Thank you for Jesus, whose death on the cross for all our sins made loving relationships possible.  Your word says there is no fear in love and that Your perfect love casts out all our fear. 

Show us the changes we need to make in order to become willing to make amends.  As we go forward, help us to build our relationships on the firm foundation of Your love.  But for today, our simple prayer is that You would help us to become willing to make amends to those people we have harmed. Amen 

No one can make themselves willing.  It’s work that God does in our heart.  Let’s take time today to ask Him to do that in any relationship where we are experiencing pain or strain today.