Relationships. They fill our hearts full, provide support and camaraderie, and give us all manner of things to help carry us through life’s difficulties. But when there are misunderstandings within our relationships, we may find ourselves feeling at a loss for what to do. I think most of us could say that relationships can be the best and the worst, a stress reliever on many occasions, but sadly, during misunderstandings, they can create much inner turmoil.
As women who love Jesus, we should be compelled to love others like He does, but that doesn’t often come easily, and this calls for a lot of prayer. Even the easy relationships should have our payer attention because we have an enemy that wants to tear us apart.
Prayer can heal our relationships and give us direction when we feel at a loss about how to continue. It can help us understand a situation and keep us going when we don’t. Through prayer, God will hold us close when we are hurting, and He’ll not turn us away. Prayer undoes things inside of us so we can move forward in spite of misunderstandings. In prayer, Jesus walks before us, behind us, and right alongside us, all at the same time. God is working in our relationships in ways we can’t see. He is working in especially powerful ways when we pray.
One of the most powerful ways we can pray is to repeat Scriptures. My challenge to you (and me) this week is that we would spend time praying consistently over our relationships. Below are some suggestions about how to begin praying over your relationships. Each topic includes a Bible verse so that you can pray God’s words right back to Him.
1 Pray that God will deepen your relationships.
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8, NLT)
2 Pray that God will help you love well.
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3, NLT)
3 Pray that God will give you wisdom and help you think clearly about your relationships. Ask Him to reveal to you any thoughts or perspectives within yourself that might need to change. We can’t change another person, but with God’s help, we can change ourselves.
Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our
hearts. (Psalm 90:12, HCSB)
4 Pray that God will help you communicate with compassion in your relationships.This is the key that opens the door to understanding in all situations.
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1, NKJV)
5 In your broken relationships, pray for healing. This may or may not involve rekindling a relationship because sometimes parting is best, but God can heal and bring forgiveness in each of you either way.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32, NASB)
6 Pray that God will help you be faithful to your friendship during times of misunderstanding and adversity.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (Colossians 3:12-14, NASB)
Remember, prayer changes things! Prayer changes us from the inside out and invites God to work in our lives and the lives of those around us. Cover your relationships with prayer this week, and you can rest assured that Jesus goes before you. He is not only working in your heart, but He is preparing the heart of your friend in regard to what needs to happen for your relationship to deepen or be healed. Be watchful for the little things. Big changes happen one small step at a time!
Let’s Talk
What Bible verses help you in dealing with difficult relationships? I’d love to
hear your thoughts in the comments section below!
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, we come before You now asking you to help us be faithful to
prayer for our relationships. You have not created us to live life alone. We
ask for deepening relationships, and in our difficult relationships, we ask for
healing. Help us to wait patiently while You work. Give us a heart of wisdom.
Help us to look inside to see where we may need to change so that our
relationships can be better. In Jesus name, Amen.
The post, 6 Powerful Verse to Pray over Your Relationships, first appeared at www.journeytoimperfect.com.
