Day 08 – Oct. 8

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” -Psalm 133:1 NIV

Family is such a beautiful opportunity of deeply understanding the importance of Christ’s body. Why, when I desire peace, do I often defend my case more fervently? What does it look like for me to operate in humility in this family/body? How can I better love my own family members?  Unity begins in the home. God has provided us with the power to change our homes.

God, we are so grateful for the gift of family You have given us! Help us to remember that and to have abounding patience for one another. Remind us the people You have given to us are so valuable and their presence in our lives is purposeful and intentional by you. Give us strength to have humility when our pride is strong. Remind us that our love for the people in our home is eternal and that matters more than our fleeting emotions. Please bless our conversations with one another and give us words full of graciousness to speak to each other. Let us not take one another for granted but to seek You and serve You through loving the people right beside us. Lord, our sight is so narrow, give us fresh eyes. It can be difficult to look at parents, spouses, siblings, or children and to view them as their past actions. Allow us to see the members of our family the way you see them and to take action in relationship with them because they’re worth it. We pray for families that are separated in person or in mindset and their way of operating, You turn our darkness into light and we believe You will bring restoration to separation and unification to our abandonment of those closest to us. Preserve in us the bold love for our families we have as children. Remind us daily of the kingdom work You reveal to us through our family. Lord Your name changes hearts, so in Jesus’ name we pray You will attune our hearts to what is good, true, and lovely in your creation. Amen.