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A challenge for everyone this Christmas
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Posted by: angelofthelord
Christmas love for family. One of the common prayer requests
are requests for God to reconcile family members whose relationships have
been broken for a myriad of reasons. One of the tests of our spiritual
maturity is the ability to forgive, pray for, and love someone that has
wronged us. It is especially difficult when that someone is part of our
family. My challenge for you today to exhibit Christ-like love this
Christmas as you share this blessed time of year with your family members.
Regardless of who is at fault, who is wrong, the circumstances involved, my
challenge to you this Christmas is to make an attempt to reconcile with
someone in your family that you may not currently have a relationship with.
I realise in many cases this is going to be a very difficult task, but it is
what God wants you to do, and He will give you the strength and courage to
make the effort.
Please note, you are not responsible for the actions of anyone else,
only your own. You cannot force a relationship with someone who refuses to
accept you. But you can, and God requires you, to make the effort. At that
point, it is in His hands. He is the one who has to move on the other
person's heart. Much like in witnessing, you can never force someone to get
saved. But God requires you to give them the opportunity, and after that,
it is up to the power of the Holy Spirit to move on that person's heart.
I am not going to elaborate very much today, because the challenge God has
for you is very simple, very straightforward. God is asking you to make the
effort to reconcile with someone that you are not on good terms with
during this Christmas season. Forget the reasons that you are fighting,
forget what has happened in the past, make the effort in Christ-like love.
At that point, you have done what God has asked you to do, and it is then up
to the other person to respond.
I know this is not easy, and in many cases will be very painful. I will be
praying for you. I will be praying for His strength, words, and love to
be with you in a way like you never have known before. God is love. It is
His desire to see His children love one another. What better Christmas
present for God than to obey His voice and make the effort to reconcile your
relationship with that family member you are separated from!
I love you and care about you so much. I will be praying today specifically
for you to heed this challenge and to be obedient to God's voice. I want to
see you be all God has raised you up to be. One way you can do that, is by
doing those things in life, even the painful things, that you know God
expects you to do.
You will be surprised how much can be accomplished just by making the
effort. The problems won't immediately disappear, they won't wipe away
years of pain, but God is able to heal and restore relationships. God is a
God of reconciliation and restoration! That is His desire for you this
Christmas!
Posted by: ChosenByHim
Wonderful post. Thank you so much. You are right. Gave me a lot to think about. Thanks again