amplify your Ri #7 - what are you sowing?

Tomorrow will be a great day at the Turning Point.  Kevin will be speaking about how our conversation and the things we say affect our relationships. 

I have one last thought this week about our relationships with our physical family.  If you want your relationships to change, then start now by making changes yourself.  Then, be willing to be consistent and faithful, and most of all, patient while you wait for those changes to take effect.  Your family may not ever change.  However, if they do, then be prepared for change to come slowly. 

In thinking about your own personal changes, consider this:

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 (TNIV)

Use this verse as a guideline for your interactions with your family.  Is your spirit peace-loving?  Are you being considerate?  What about (gulp...) submissive???  Are you full of mercy?  Can you choose to really be impartial?  Really??  Pray for a sincere heart in everything you do in and around your family this week!

In the next verse, James says this:  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18 (TNIV)

You reap what you sow.  If you sow judgement, condescension, self-righteousness and irritation, then you can expect those same things to come back to you.  But James says that if we sow in peace, then we will reap a harvest of righteousness.

Be patient.  It won't always come right away, but God is faithful!  He sees everything you do, say and think, and will help give you strength to make the changes you need to make. 

Question:  How has your Relational Intelligence grown in the past two weeks?  Have you seen any changes in your relationships that you can share?