Relationship Ups and Downs: How Your Relationship with God Can Help You with Your Relationships with Others

Relationship Ups and Downs: How Your Relationship with God Can Help You with Your Relationships with Others.

By Joseph Snider


What are some issues you find in relationships or being in relationships with others?

What are some of the things that you wish people just knew about you or rather you wish they would just get?

What are some things that you need to work on?

Ten Common Problems in All Relationships

Written by Leslie Musoko

Whatever relationship we find ourselves in, be it friendship, marriage, mother in-law or father in-law, siblings, acquaintances we always find a away to have problems amongst ourselves that really need to be resolved.
10 Common Problems in Relationships

1. Communication - This is at the forefront of every relationship. Quite simply we rarely listen to anyone most of the time but ourselves. We nod and acknowledge each other but most of the time we are more focused on getting our point across. When this outweighs its benefits we hit an obstacle and before long we are facing a problem. Communication at its basic level means both people must have the chance to say something and be heard. If there is no balance it is unlikely that any relationship would last.
2. Pride - We all carry a certain level of pride within us that makes it impossible to accept advice or correction. Irrespective of our age or who we are talking to we must always believe that we can learn something from them. This is humility. Without this humility there can be no relationship. As long as one person believes that they are better than another and shows this in one way or the other there would be a problem. Once more there has to be balance. We are not robots so pride is acceptable as something that we can't avoid. Yet we should be willing to take the low ground and allow someone else to have the higher ground when it is necessary for balance to exist and for our relationship to prosper.
3. Work - Relationships like anything else require effort and work to prosper. Having a friend and not taking the time out to call them or extend that hand of friendship without regret or expectation damages the relationship. Today technology has made it possible that we can reach anyone at anytime in most places in the world. There are really very few excuses why we cannot do this. Friendships require work and we must put in the effort to reap the rewards.
4. Dishonesty - No relationship would last if there is dishonesty. This breeds a lack of trust and plunges the relationship into chaos. Regardless of how bad things may be we should endeavor to tell the truth. Once distrust becomes a part of a relationship it is doomed.
5. Respect - Respect is another key aspect of any relationship. This is not respect just of status but that of friendship and individuals. With respect people are willing to listen to others without reservation. This is enough to give the relationship the time it needs to develop into something better.
6. Patience - In any relationship there must be patience. It is the basis for understanding, better communication and allowing time for the relationship to run its course. It caters for unforeseeable circumstances and for tolerance. It shows that we have accepted each other for who we are.
7. Forgiveness - There must also be forgiveness and kindness for our mistakes. This should strengthen any relationship and should be shown in deed as well as words. Without forgiveness there would be no relationship because people are bound to make mistakes time and again.
8. Envy - Friendship cannot survive envy or jealousy. This must be avoided at all cost. It creates unhealthy competition that eventually leads to malice. We must find a means to get along without looking at the things that each other possess in envy.
9. Appreciation - As humans we always want to feel appreciated. It is a part of us that makes us feel wanted and needed. This strengthens any relationship tenfold. We are all like kids in one way or the other and desire praise to feel appreciated. This is something that cannot go amiss in any relationship.
10. Balance - Every relationship must have some form of balance whether it is in giving or receiving. Balance always works towards producing positive results. On one hand for those who are always giving they must know when to stop and allow the other person in the relationship to do their part. And for those who are always receiving they learn how to give if the giver stops. For the first time they realize what they are missing and begin giving in order to receive. This balance is heart felt and must be applied to all the other factors mentioned above which could cause problems in a relationship.
Leslie Musokohttp://lesliemusoko.ning.com
http://lesliemusoko.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leslie_Musoko


We often find ourselves unsure how to overcome the common problems in relationships. Even in singleness we either find ourselves becoming so involved in not worrying about being in relationships that we almost isolate ourselves, or we are on the other end of the spectrum and find ourselves so obsessed with getting married and not being single anymore; we find ourselves in bad, unhealthy, and ungodly relationships. More importantly we find ourselves neglecting the most important relationship of all and that is our relationship with God.
The crazy thing Singles is that we forget that all relationships not only involve some type of intimacy, some type of love and respect, but that every type of relationship involves spending time with each other. I don’t know if it is the fact that God is not a physical being that we neglect the spending time part, but I just find it funny how we put more effort in spending time with the physical/natural than we do with our loving, caring, and amazing God. I’m not being judgmental and I’m not trying to step on any toes, but I want to open our eyes to something amazing. I believe if we give God the best relationship He can have with us, he will turn around and bless us with the best relationship we can have with someone in the natural: be it work relationships, friendships, kinships, romantic/intimate relationships, or marriage.

I firmly believe in the scripture in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” I believe that if we give God our best singles and we give Him everything we have; He will not only bless us in relationships, but he will bless us in our jobs, finances, health; He will bless us physically, emotionally, mentally; He will bless our goals, endeavors, our hopes, our dreams; stated plainly if we give God our first, He will give us his FAVOR. So I have explored these four points: Communication, Spending Quality Time, Intimacy, and Romance; as the four ways to overcome relationship ups and downs. Apply these four points to your relationship with God and watch how it can affect/change the relationships you have here on earth.

• Communication: Got Questions.org states that, “God’s primary ways of communication with us are through the His Word (Romans 10:17) and by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Our primary mode of communication with God is prayer. We are to go to God in prayer for all our needs. When we lack something, God says that it is not from His inability to provide, but our lack of diligence to ask or asking with the wrong motives (James 4:2-3). Even Jesus prayed regularly because of the limitations He took upon Himself in human form (Luke 3:21; Mark 1:35; Matthew 26:36). No longer able to communicate with God face to face, as He did in heaven, Jesus prayed often and fervently to reestablish intimate communication with the Father. We are to follow His example and “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).” We must understand that communication is more than just talking, but we must do more listening and interpreting; seeking understanding, and also learning to read non-verbal cues. Relationships have more downs when people are unwilling to communicate and then respond to what has been communicated. When God communicates to us, He wants a response to what He has shared. Again communication is filled with action, to listen, to share, to interpret, and to RESPOND.
• Spending Quality Time: (Luke 10:38-42): Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Time is a precious resource; so abundant that it has no physical shape or can’t be stored; but so limited and unpredictable that we can’t save it or replenish it. That’s why spending time is so important in a relationship; especially one with God because it shows not only obedience, but sacrifice. Mary was not distracted by the cares of the world, but instead understood the importance of spending that close quality time with her savior. How many of us singles have been guilty of spending quality time with friends and family; spending quality time with our careers, school work, hopes and dreams; we forget to spend that time with God. Imagine how great our lives with be if we spent more time with our Savior? Don’t neglect quality time; it is in spending quality time that we learn new things about a God/person, we learn likes and dislikes, we learn what makes them happy, and we build intimacy.
• Intimacy: Colossians 3:1 says, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” I chose this verse for intimacy because of the key words (seek) and (above). Intimacy is synonymous with (relationship, familiarity, confidence, and understanding) and if you’re seeking the things of Christ and you want more Ups in your relationships then downs you have to seek the things that are above. Intimacy is not just sexual. Intimacy is those purposeful actions towards building relationship and understanding with someone mind, body, and soul. In relation to building a strong relationship with God, seeking Him in such away that makes God fill special. You know what makes God feel special? Our obedience, our willingness to love others and follow Christ like principles, serving others, humility, praise, and the most effective way to be intimate with God is through Prayer and Worship. We have to live an intimate lifestyle of prayer and worship to be in a loving, intimate, and powerful relationship with God. Anybody want to get intimate with God?
• Romance: Matthew 22:37, “Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Romance is the willingness to be completely absorbed and enthusiastic about showing your love to another person. The dictionary defines it as two people in a love affair. This scripture describes us being in a love affair with God; not only with our soul, but with our entire being. You’ve ever been in love with someone with your entire being and those people not treasure it or honor it. But God, but God, but God, but God is able to romance you in such away that you’ll forget all about the hurt and pain that the person caused. God can romance you so well that you’ll find that wholeness you’ve been looking for. If God can do that for us. Why can’t we do that for Him? Let’s romance God with our worship, with our praise. Let’s romance Him with spending quality time with Him, communicating with Him, serving others, loving others, and giving God our very best. We can overcome relationship ups and downs by using our relationship with God as a model. If you have these four components active in your relationship with God, WATCH how he will bless your relationships with your fellow man.