Relationships, Misunderstandings and Forgiveness

     Good relationships are maintained through a good balance.  A person needs a good balance to stay physically healthy and a person also needs a balance to stay spiritually healthy or have healthy relationships.  It's an every day thing.  We have to eat every day to maintain a physical well being and the same principals apply to our spiritual life.  The word of God is our spiritual food.  Jesus said, in John 6:27, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the son of man will give you.  On him, God the father has placed the seal of approval."   We have to study the Bible every day.  Pick a subject or a project and put aside time for it.  Get a concordance, look up every scripture about the Holy Spirit, or health, marriage, or love, just pick a topic and get into it.  Just like anything else it will take some time and effort until you make it a routine.  Your flesh will fight it, but soon you will want to do it.  It's exciting and God will bless you.  Make it strictly Bible, the word, your spiritual food.  Then pray.
     We need exercise to be physically strong.  We need prayer and ministry to be spiritually strong.  Pray all day, pray about everything.  Tell Jesus exactally how you feel.  Tell Him everything.  Look deep inside yourself and pray, and along with prayer comes ministry.
     To stay healthy, your body needs rest.  And we also need to rest in the Lord.  Sing to God.  Worship Jesus every day.  Turn on some music and sing to it, dance in the spirit, let your mind rest in Him.  Then mentally let go of bitterness.  Forgive those who have made you angry.  You don't have to physically go to each person and say, "I forgive you."  Just don't cling to anger.  Picture your anger, hate and bitterness, put that big black mass of anger in a nice mental basket and say, "Here Lord, you can have these feelings, help me to receive your peace."  Ask God to change the hearts and atrtitudes of those that you are having problems with.  Then knowing that God answeres prayers, stand firm, nothing wavering, believe.  Also be still, take some time to just sit and listen.
     If you are like me you have tried to change others on your own and that doesn't work.   So try giving it to God, and let it go!  It may not happen all at once but soon you will see a change in yourself and others.  Some things may take time and you are going to have to get to the root of your feelings, but God will help, He is faithful. 
     You are going to have to want help.  Maybe you think you do, but deep down you think it's too hard.   Or maybe you kind of like feeling angry.  So if you honestly can't pray, "Lord help me to forgive."  then pray, "Lord help me want to forgive, help me to want to change, help me to want to love others."  Then pray for those people that are causing you trouble.  Honestly pray, "God help them to understand how I feel."  Then your relationships will get better.  And the things that seemed irritating and impossible will soon seem petty and small.
     One more thing, before you talk to anyone you are having problems with, pray that the Holy Spirit will fill you and give you the right words and feelings.  Most arguements are because of misunderstandings, so make sure when you talk, that you are both understanding the real feelings behind the words.  And like I so often say, Listen for Gods voice and follow.