Together

I am missing yesterday's blog post because it's actually a link I'd like to share and I can't do it from my phone application. Yesterday's word was SAY. I shall post when my laptop is accessible. Today's word is JOIN.

There's a verse in the Bible that goes, "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." Mark 10:9 To put it into context, the Pharisees (religious folks, the legalistic ones of Jesus' time here on earth) were questioning Him, as they often did, to try and stump Him and prove Him wrong. They did not believe or want to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Ultimately, they wanted Jesus to say something contradictory to the law of Moses (Old Testament) and prove Him to be a blasphemer. In turn, Jesus stepped away from the legastic view and replied by bringing it back to Genesis and what God originally intended. We could all learn from that, sometimes we get uber religious and in those moments we should ask, "What was/is God's original intention for this situation I find myself in?" 

This verse is discussing marriage and the union between two people and when God ordains it, let no man separate that union. This brings to mind something I've learned about relationships in general, platonic or otherwise. 

God uses people to bless us. The enemy uses people (unbeknownst to them) to distract us and throw us off course, off of our purpose. When I say the enemy, I am referring to Satan. I once believed only in Heaven not realizing how real Hell was (is) and how the enemy had me right where he wanted me. That's another story. Whether you're a believer or not, there is a part of you that recognizes a force for good and a force for evil. 

I am praying for relationships (friendships, destiny partners, purpose mates, marriages, covenant friendships etc) and I ask that you join me. Or at the very least, recognize the power of a union (the power of two or more) and how we're better together. 

I know the enemy's biggest tactic is to divide us so that we can harden our hearts toward people. So that we don't forgive, so that we hold grudges, so that we can be competitive and conniving, so that we can continue to hurt one another and the list goes on. All of these "isms" (division) come to mind which I will not go into. I will declare that friendships and marriages will prosper and withstand the attack of the enemy. 

It's happened in my own life and mostly in Los Angeles, there's a reason for that too but I digress. There have been times when disagreements, difference of opinion, when silly discussions have taken a downward turn and have caused major tension, unnecessarily might I add, in my own friendships. 

I remember holding my tongue and being quick to listen and slow to speak, I remember being patient, I remember wanting to go back to my old way of handling things (removing said person from my life, I didn't know what grace was) and then I remembered the enemy's strategy. When I was doing everything in me to maintain the peace, the other person would get all the more frustrated. Or when I would lose my cool, so would the other person and then I realized how ugly it felt and how it got worse. How guilty I felt. Now, we know there is no condemnation in God so again that was the enemy trying to separate. I can now recognize one of his schemes and I want to make others aware of it as well.

Whether you're a believer or not, there are some friendships and relationships that have gone astray. My prayer is that you find it within you to forgive this person, that you find it within you to apologize, that you find it within you to bless someone rather than curse them, especially someone who you once called a friend. I pray that you find it within to forgive yourself for anything you might've done or said. 

Remember the good times you've shared, remember your shared goals, remember that we're not perfect and will make mistakes. Remember that "Together we stand, divided we fall." 

Remind yourself that you don't always have to agree on every issue or topic but you can choose to see past that and be the bigger person and learn to love & respect your differences. Be the person who extends the olive branch whether they were at fault or not. You don't have to seek out revenge, why? Because that's how everyone else does it? 

Now, I am not referring to toxic relationships either, let's be clear. I am referring to friends who have let disputes get in the way, who have let a person get in the way, who have let their careers get in the way, who have let bitterness get in the way. 

Once you take the steps to mend the friendship, the marriage or whatever it is, you'll find a sense of relief because you won't carry that burden anymore. Your "baggage" is now lighter and we all have baggage, don't we? It's a work in progress, don't be so hard on yourself. 

There are so many people who are hurting and we don't know it, so many lonely souls, let's not contribute to it. Be a friend. Be a buddy. Be a leader. Be the change. 

The enemy wants us isolated because when we are alone and sad, he might be able to convince us that we're unworthy. That's a lie. That's deception. That's a tactic. 

We were all created with a purpose in mind. YOU matter to the world, the world needs YOUR contribution. 

Join me in staying united and praying for relationships and when you see conflict rearing it's ugly head in your own relationships -- fight back, fight for GOOD. 

Glory to God.