20/20 Vision Day 10 - Family Relationships

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Gen 1:27,28 NLT

God has planned family relationships from the beginning of time. His desire to give life and purpose to Adam and Eve and to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden demonstrates his desire for close relationships.  Close family relations are how we see the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The enemy of God loves to bring destruction to God’s good intentions. As we read through Scriptures we often see conflict in close relationships: Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, Rachael and Leah, Sarah and Hagar. Often jealousy, anger and discontentment  promote conflict. .

Recognizing a time which produced conflict in our marriage, I was advised to pray like this: “Dear God, change ME in whatever way you have to change ME to benefit ________(my husband)”.  It was life-changing for me and our marriage.  Later I used this prayer related to other family relationships.  As I prayed this prayer, I became aware of my own contribution to conflict. My heart attitude changed. I began to see conflicts as opportunities to receive God’s grace.  I learned to examine and put my relationship with God first, then family and then work/ministry.

Take some time to reflect on your own family relationships. For areas of conflict or separation, ask God to show you His heart in the situation and to give you wisdom about resolution or reconciliation. Are there relationships with immediate family members needing your attention? Are you spending time in prayer?   Are your priorities in right order:  relationship with God first, family next, work/ministry next?   

Would you be willing to pray the “change me” prayer over the situation?

Father God, thank you for giving us life, purpose, family, hope. We ask that you  break through any resistance, miscommunications, and walls that may have been constructed in our relationships.  We want Your Holy Spirit to flow freely through us to others.