I have been SO blessed and challenged by the Relational Wisdom 360 principles, that I wanted to share more with you! So far, on this Sunday blog, we have had a helicopter view of becoming more Self, Other and God-Aware. Today I would like us to go back to the relational wisdom 360 circle and think about how we become more God-aware and God-engaging.
Have you ever gotten lost because you did not have the correct directions? Or your sat nav took you down a different route? Or you read the map wrong? I have! Sometimes getting lost when you are travelling can be fun, when you are not in a rush and you know you are safe. But, at other times it can be frightening, stressful and not enjoyable at all. What about our relationships? How would we rate their quality and stability? Where do we go for guidance? I know I would like to improve my relational skills, but find I often revert to old habits that damage my relationship with God and others, even when I am trying hard to relate well.
There is good news in all of this though! We are not alone! God’s love for us is so great, that He does not leave us to try to figure out how to relate well on our own! He offers us His gifts of kindness and forgiveness, in turn for our distorted ideas of how we should live. (Think of Abraham and Sarah, Moses, David and many others in the Bible!) He invites us to trust His guidance through His word, the leading of the Holy Spirit and through the teaching and counsel of His church, as we navigate life and relationships. As the Gospel flows into and impacts every area of our lives we grow in our relationship with Him and learn to relate well with others.
How do we learn to understand, worship, and follow God in every situation? Think about the following when you experience a challenging relational situation:
Glorify God
Trust God to work for good in each situation. Read His word, listen to Him and obey what He says. Do everything for His glory and worship Him above everything else. Show your love and trust in the Lord by sharing with others what He is doing in your life and encouraging them to follow Him too.
Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
John 17:4 “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”
Pursue God
Fill your heart, mind, and soul with His truth, thoughts, goals by regularly studying, meditating on, and hiding God’s Word in your heart. Pray for clear guidance, depending on Him to change and guide us. Fellowship regularly with other believers who are actively loving and following Him.
Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Psalm 119:45 “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.”
James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Serve God
Seek to please and honour Him in every situation, by following Jesus’ example. Love and serve others as Jesus would if He were here in person. What is He calling me to do?
John 8:29 “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
1 John 2:5-6 “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
Matthew 6:31-33 “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
How have you seen God guide you over the years/recent days when you have faced challenging relational situations? Where do you see areas that you have been following your own or the world’s navigation, instead of God’s? Thank the Lord that He does not leave us to figure out things on our own, but is with us and counsels us in the way we should go!
Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.”
Psalm 48:14 “This is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.”
