Building Stronger Relationships Through God's Guidance

Devotional

Day 1: Prioritize God Above All

Our relationships with family and friends are vital, but our relationship with God must always be our top priority. When God is at the center of our lives, it provides a solid foundation for all other relationships. This perspective helps us navigate interactions with others, reflecting His love and grace. By prioritizing God, we align our values and actions with His teachings, which in turn positively influences our relationships with those around us. Remember, when God is our number one priority, everything else falls into place more harmoniously. [02:27]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: How can you make God the top priority in your life today? What specific steps can you take to ensure that your relationship with Him influences your interactions with others?

Day 2: Speak Positively About Others

Avoiding negative talk and speaking positively about others is crucial for building trust and respect in our relationships. When we speak truthfully and positively, we uplift and encourage those around us. This means refraining from gossip or negative comments, even when the person is not present. Instead, focus on their strengths and achievements, and speak in a way that you wouldn't need to change if they walked into the room. Positive speech fosters a supportive and loving environment, strengthening our bonds with others. [07:13]

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV): "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you spoke negatively about someone. How can you change your speech to be more positive and uplifting in future interactions?

Day 3: Compliment and Bless Others

Using our words to bless and encourage others can have a profound impact on their well-being. Simple compliments and acknowledgments of others' strengths and achievements can significantly uplift their spirits. This practice shifts our mindset from self-centeredness to a more loving and supportive approach. By actively looking for opportunities to compliment and bless others, we create a positive and encouraging atmosphere that fosters deeper connections and mutual respect. [11:48]

Proverbs 16:24 (ESV): "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."

Reflection: Who in your life could use a word of encouragement today? How can you make it a habit to regularly compliment and bless those around you?

Day 4: Eliminate Negative Habits

Negative habits such as bitterness, wrath, and slander can severely damage our relationships. These destructive emotions and actions create barriers and foster resentment. Instead, we should strive to replace them with positive behaviors like kindness, compassion, and understanding. By actively working to eliminate these negative habits, we create a more loving and supportive environment for ourselves and those around us. This transformation requires self-awareness and a commitment to personal growth. [16:30]

Colossians 3:8 (ESV): "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth."

Reflection: Identify a negative habit that you struggle with in your relationships. What steps can you take to replace it with a positive behavior?

Day 5: Actively Work on Forgiveness

Forgiveness is essential for healing and maintaining healthy relationships. It requires continuous effort and prayer, but it is crucial for overcoming bitterness and hurt feelings. Long-lasting relationships are built on a foundation of forgiveness, as evidenced by those who have been married for many years. By actively working on forgiveness, we allow ourselves and others to move past hurt and build stronger, more resilient connections. [25:42]

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV): "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Think of someone you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the significance of relationships in our lives, emphasizing that while family and friends are crucial, God must always be our top priority. Relationships are fundamental to our human experience, yet they can be challenging due to our inherent differences. These differences often lead to misunderstandings and conflicts, but they also make our relationships rich and meaningful. The Bible underscores the importance of relationships, mentioning "one another" a hundred times, with 59 occurrences in the New Testament alone.

We delved into five biblical tips for improving our relationships, all rooted in Ephesians 4. The first tip is to avoid speaking negatively about others. Instead, we should speak truthfully and positively, ensuring that our words build others up. The second tip is to actively compliment and bless others with our words, focusing on their strengths and achievements. This simple act can significantly uplift and encourage those around us.

The third tip is to eliminate negative habits such as bitterness, wrath, and slander. These destructive emotions and actions can severely damage relationships. Instead, we should strive to replace them with positive behaviors and attitudes. The fourth tip is to be kind and compassionate, showing genuine empathy and understanding towards others. This involves being tenderhearted and expressing appreciation and love in a sincere manner.

Finally, the fifth tip is to actively work on forgiveness. Forgiveness is essential for healing and maintaining healthy relationships. It requires continuous effort and prayer, but it is crucial for overcoming bitterness and hurt feelings. We concluded by acknowledging the wisdom and experience of those who have been married for many years, highlighting that long-lasting relationships are built on a foundation of forgiveness.

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Key Takeaways

1. being. By focusing on others' strengths and achievements, we shift our mindset from self-centeredness to a more loving and supportive approach. [11:48]
4. Eliminate Negative Habits: Get rid of destructive emotions and actions like bitterness, wrath, and slander. These negative habits can severely damage relationships. Instead, strive to replace them with positive behaviors such as kindness, compassion, and understanding.

5. Actively Work on Forgiveness: Forgiveness is essential for healing and maintaining healthy relationships. It requires continuous effort and prayer, but it is crucial for overcoming bitterness and hurt feelings. Long-lasting relationships are built on a foundation of forgiveness, as evidenced by those who have been married for many years.

### [11:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:27] - Importance of Relationships
[04:27] - Tip 1: Avoid Negative Talk
[07:13] - Positive Speech Example
[10:03] - Tip 2: Compliment and Bless Others
[12:37] - Power of Simple Compliments
[15:37] - Tip 3: Eliminate Negative Habits
[18:54] - Addressing Negative Emotions
[20:42] - Tip 4: Be Kind and Compassionate
[23:53] - Genuine Expressions of Appreciation
[25:42] - Tip 5: Actively Work on Forgiveness
[28:50] - Invitation and Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 4:25, what should we put away and what should we speak instead?
In Ephesians 4:29, what kind of talk should come out of our mouths, and what is its purpose?
What does Romans 15:1-3 say about how we should treat our neighbors?
According to Colossians 3:12-13, what qualities should we "put on" as God's chosen ones?

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to speak truthfully and positively about others, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:25-29? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on positive speech? [07:02]
How does the act of complimenting and blessing others, as discussed in Romans 15:1-3, shift our mindset from self-centeredness to a more loving and supportive approach? [12:25]
What are the potential consequences of harboring bitterness, wrath, and slander in our relationships, as described in Ephesians 4:31? How does this relate to the sermon’s third tip on eliminating negative habits? [16:23]
How does actively working on forgiveness, as highlighted in Colossians 3:12-13, contribute to the healing and maintenance of healthy relationships? [25:23]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current relationships. Are there any where you have not prioritized God above all? How can you realign your priorities to ensure God is at the center? [02:27]
Think about a recent conversation where you spoke about someone who wasn’t present. Did your words build them up or tear them down? How can you ensure your speech is always positive and uplifting? [07:02]
Identify a person in your life who could benefit from a genuine compliment. What specific strength or achievement can you acknowledge to encourage them? [12:25]
Are there any negative habits such as bitterness or anger that you need to eliminate from your life? What steps can you take to replace these with kindness and compassion? [16:23]
Consider someone you need to forgive. What is one practical step you can take this week to move towards forgiveness, and how can prayer support you in this process? [25:23]
How can you show genuine appreciation and love to someone in your life this week? Think of a specific way to express your gratitude or admiration. [22:17]
Reflect on a time when you felt hurt by someone’s actions. How did you handle it? What can you learn from that experience to improve your approach to forgiveness and reconciliation in the future? [26:03]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Family is important to us. People are important to us. Friends are important. Relationships are important. It is what being human is all about. Relationships, isn't it? And yet, relationships, because of the fact that we are all different, everyone is different." [02:27] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Talk about people in a way that if they walk in the room, you don't have to change a thing. I want to brag on Matt Post for a minute. And he hates when I do this. He really does. It always costs me something. But I've never. So I've been working. You know, Matt's been here a year and I have I have never seen anyone. Talk about people so positively and properly as as he does." [07:02] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Compliment people. And I, in a more broad sense, focus on blessing others. Use your words to build people up. Use your words to build people up. And specifically, a very simple, easy, and specific way to improve relationships is compliment people. It requires us to be thinking about them and putting them first. How can I help them?" [12:25] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When we pray for people, that's an answer here, by the way. How do I not get so angry with people? Pray for them. When I pray for them, now I'm aligned, now I'm talking to God. And guess how God feels about our enemies? He loves them. He created them. He put an eternal soul in every one of them. And He wants to redeem them. And save them. Just like you and I." [19:50] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted. Now, again, this is... Before we were Christian, we could be hard-hearted. Now that we're a Christian, we want to be tenderhearted. I heard a person say one time... This was before I really knew them. And then I got into a close relationship with them and saw this come out. But I was warned. But anyway, this person said... They said, I'm a good friend to my friends. But if someone crosses me, look out. You don't want to be on my bad side." [20:43] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "The one another aspect of our lives is important. And in scripture, the Bible mentions one another a hundred times. In the New Testament, 59 times. It's a big deal. So today we're going to talk about, I want to give you five tips for better relationships today. From scripture, of course." [02:27] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up as fits the occasion. That it may give grace to those who hear the word corrupting. The NIV in New American says unwholesome. Let no one wholesome talk come out of your mouth. Let no corrupting talk. Well, what? What exactly is corrupting?" [05:52] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Get rid of negative habits. And I want to separate these into two groups, these words. This first group, these are feelings. Bitterness is where you just feel sour about someone. Wrath is anger on steroids. So, you got your regular run-of-the-mill anger. Then you have wrath. And then malice is where it's also a feeling. Malice is wanting something bad. The desire to harm someone or feeling a pleasure at someone's misfortune. I can't stand them and I can't wait until they get what they have coming." [17:25] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Actively work on forgiving. And Colossians 3.12 says, this is our scripture reading. Put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts. Kindness. Humility. Meekness. Patience. Bearing with one another. And if one has a complaint against another. By the way, this is the least appealing thing to do on a human level when you're upset with someone. You get mad at someone, what does God say to do? Forgive them. I can't forgive them. Well, try. I've tried and I couldn't do it. Keep trying. Keep trying." [26:03] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "You don't make it that long in marriage without forgiving. It's a part of relationships. It's hard. It's hard. Old people sometimes can be grumpy because they've been through some hard things. Life beats us up. And marriage does that. But forgiveness is the healer. And so what a great tip scripture gives us." [27:50] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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