I percieve self-focus and insecurity distract me from how Relational God is. He is so secure, enjoying who He is, that He can afford to be “mindful” (Ps.8:4) of us! He thinks about us constantly (Psalms 139:17). He is so amazingly relational.
Which makes me want to be like HIM! Right? How important MY relationships are to HIM! Unfortunately, I often see my kids as trouble…”get out of my hair; I’m busy.” How about you? Or, my wife is someone I have to “keep happy.” But, I’m awakening to the Holiness in my relationships. I feel like relationships are becoming more sacred to me, since they are to my Father. Investing in them is like investing in Heaven’s atmosphere somehow, because HE is “into” relationship.
And Communication is so critical to that. You know, just talking; just listening. Yeah, just listening is so important. CHANGE OF ATTITUDE: “My opinion is less important than REALLY LISTENING!”
I think communication has been goal-oriented to me. You know like coordinating our lives, hopes, dreams. But, I haven’t really enjoyed the thoughts of others… pausing long enough to enjoy what they are saying, thinking, feeling! Others carry such nobility, and divinity (Divine-nature: 2Peter1:4)… undiscovered!
And Discovery is becoming more important to me. Discovering WHO they are deep inside. It’s like others become a frontier of personhood where I can search for preciousness; wisdom; nobility. As we relate, I find out what they are really like at the core, and I am amazed at the nobility deep inside my wife, my kids, my friends. Jesus has blessed us with such quality relationships. Maybe we need to “mine the gold” there!
God – Make us more like you! Give us Your heart for the people You’ve put in our lives….Your thoughts about them… Your perspective of them!
yep, just this morning I was reminded that He has poured out His love into my heart by the Holy Spirit…came to conclusion that because of that love, (not my own) I can love on others, drawing upon that love He poured out in my heart…being faithful with what He has given me. Good word Ken.
Wow, those are good thoughts Ken. Thanks for the reminder! There have certainly been times in the past when I really didn’t understand the value of the relationships I had with people in my life. I had a bunker mentality — everything revolves around my plans. Bad thinking, that. Help us to see the gold in other people, Lord!