Strategy 10: Your Relationships

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16

So, what had happened was . . . . Yep . . . . We know what that means. A pretty good story is about to come next. Part of it likely fabricated and most of it definitely exaggerated, but a little truth slid in somewhere. We sit down and listen intently, because who doesn’t love a good made up story.

God doesn’t . . .  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about a good parable. Jesus used them all the time to illustrate various principles in the new testament. I’m not talking about those stories. Those were all rooted in truth and used to advanced the kingdom. The stories that Jesus told all spoke life. The people that were around Jesus were fed, encouraged, and uplifted simply by their proximity.

What are the people around you being fed from you? Are you constantly speaking life and truth? Are you up lifting? Are your relationships advancing the kingdom of God? Are people getting closer to Jesus, just by knowing you?

In the Bible, it quickly becomes apparent that God did not intend for us to do this life alone. We are meant to be in relationship, so look around and tell me about your friends. Tell me about the fruit being produced. Tell me about the lives that are being changed.

In this strategy Priscilla lays out how the enemy tries to wage war on our relationship to create strife between each other trying to get us alone, isolated, and all by ourselves. Ever heard the saying “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”. I can’t figure out who said it. But, I think we may need to focus on this in our prayers. We should ask God to show us what friends we need and what relationships are going to impact your future. Now, your entire friend group doesn’t need to be followers of Christ, but you do need to have Godly relationships. If you don’t have any one in your inner circle that is believing in Jesus with you, then you need to pray for those relationships to develop in your life. Pray this, while also asking God to show you how to walk out your faith in the relationships that you are in with the loss. Ask him to show you how you can be a light pointing them to Jesus. Also, your entire friend group doesn’t need to be just like you. If everyone in your inner circle is a believer, then you need to pray that God reveals to you how to bring the loss into your group. If everyone in your inner circle is wealthy, then you may want to pray for God to reveal to you how to bring the poor into your group. If everyone is educated, then pray for the uneducated to join you. If everyone is black, then pray for someone that is white to join. You need someone to let your light shine before, like is says in Matthew 5:16. You need someone that stretches you. You need someone to show compassion to. You need someone that is hard to love. You need someone that will help you become more like Jesus.

1. If you haven’t already, go read the last and final strategy. Strategy 10.
2. Pray that God reveals to you which relationships have the greatest kingdom impact on your life. Pray that God reveals to you what jealousy and selfish ambition exist that is allowing every evil thing to also exist.
3. Search what the bible says about relationships, peace, and unity.
4. Start crafting your prayer strategy. Get specific. Pray for peace with God, the peace of God and for peace with others. Pray for unity and for your relationship to be on one accord.
5. Pray, fervently. Get on your face and go to battle.
6. Last consider typing it up and printing it to hide in the places where your relationships are tested the most. Keep tweaking it as your relationships change and keep covering your relationships in prayer.