| Relationships Take Center Stage – by Susan Ferguson If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5 NIV) Nearly every facet of our lives touches a relationship in some way. The family is the closest relationship to our hearts, followed by trustworthy friends. The people we treasure the most are those who love us despite our faults and our failures. These rare jewels are the friends with whom we want to spend time and share life’s experiences. Relationships can either brighten our days or turn blue skies gray. They are the source of our greatest joy and deepest pain. When relationships go wrong, we need God’s wisdom to give us understanding and discernment so we can deal with matters effectively. God’s wisdom, coupled with prayer, can change hearts and provide a new perspective. Wisdom is a promise of God that’s invaluable in our day-to-day living for Christ. In addition to God’s wisdom, we need His love to have successful relationships. Some people are not easy to love, and we need Christ’s love shining through us to them. We need His love to help us look past human flaws and overlook offences. All of our relationships need the love of Christ. Though we cannot love perfectly, we can abide in Christ and grow in His love. Relationships are a necessary part of life, but let us not forget that Jesus is the most valuable relationship we have. Today’s freelance writer is a bookkeeper by day and a writer by night. She lives with her husband in Madison, MS, USA. Contact
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