Peace in Relationships

Every morning, all of the interns do a quiet devotional as we prepare our hearts and minds for the day ahead. This morning, our devotion is about peace in relationships. I thought I should share it, seeing as we all have relationships.

I Timothy 2:22-26 tells us that we should flee from the desires of youth. Instead, we should pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. The desires of our flesh do not produce fruits like the fruits of the Spirit. It says that we should call on the Lord out of a pure heart and avoid foolish arguments. Ultimately, we should be kind to everyone, be able to teach and avoid feeling resentful toward anyone.

Hebrews 12:14-15 says that we should make every attempt to live in peace with everyone. It says, "see to it that no one misses the grace of God." That is our responsibility, to share the love and grace of God with others in a peaceful and compassionate way.

Matthew 5:9 comes from the beatitudes. It says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

I Peter 3:8-12 tells us to live in harmony with others, to be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate, and be humble.

Ultimately, the characteristics that we, as Christians, should posses are righteousness, faithful, loving, peaceful, kindness, sympathetic, compassionate, and humble. These are the things that I desire for the relationships in my life.

I always end my devotion time in prayer, so I thought I should share in prayer with you...

Father, God, I thank you so much for this new day that you have given us. I thank you for the air in my lungs and the blessings that you have surrounded me with. Lord, I adore you and I seek you with my whole heart. Reveal yourself to me today, help me to see you in the people and creation you surround me with. Father, I thank you for giving your son to die for me. I know that I don't deserve it, Lord, I don't deserve your love, but still you give it without end. I thank you so much for that. Thank you for setting the example for me to live everyday. Guide me to live in a Christlike manner so that others around me can see your light and your glory shining through me. Use me as an instrument for your work and your peace. Lord, I know that you were here long before I was, so I remember that my work on earth is not about me, its wholly about you. Lord, make me less so that you can become greater in my life. Grow in me and help me to always be the servant that you would have me to be.
Father, I ask that you would be with the interns from Common Ground. Guide their relationships with the kids and the other interns and help them to be peacemakers. Lord, give them strength and patience in every situation so that they will know how to face things in a way that you would have them to. Lord, use them and direct them to be instruments for you.
Lord, please be with my new friend, Donald, who I met Sunday. Keep him safe, Father, and protect him from the evils of this world. Lord, I don't know what it is like to not have a home or food to eat or loved ones to fellowship with, but Donald does, and I ask that you would introduce more people in his life who can help him to find those things in you and to restore his relationship with you. Forgive us for the corporate sins that we commit against others, God. So often, we don't even think about them, God, but not doing anything is just as wrong as doing harm. Forgive us.
Lord, please be with the kids and the families in Washington Park. Help the kids to learn more and more about you from summer camp and then use the things that they have learned to teach their families about you. Lord rain down your love and your mercy on this neighborhood. Show us your power to completely turn a community around for your glory.
Lord, our purpose on earth is to glorify you and enjoy you forever, and I ask that you would help us to do that because we can't do anything without your help. Without you, God, we are nothing.
Guide us, strengthen us, and protect us as we attempt to do your will in each step of our lives.
I pray all of these things in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.