Building Relationships

Relationships – so precious and also so challenging. 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 takes willingness and hard work from both partners. Here are some helpful guidelines we find in the Bible.

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

Loving God, These are such good principles but the bottom line is that to maintain or rebuild a healthy relationship we need Your help.  Care and kindness , healing, patience, wisdom, and forgiveness all come from You. 

Help us to let go of unrealistic expectations we put on others. You are the one who meets our deepest needs.  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

Let’s do our best to do our part to build loving relationships today.