The Gift of Fellowship

In my morning devos. this morning I came across this passage taken from "A  Woman After God's Heart" written by Elizabeth George. It fits in very nicely with our theme of "plunging" into relationships this year in MOPS! (Side note: this book is an incredible book for morning devos. that addresses how to grow in our main roles as women. I highly recommend it!)

Spiritual Growth: The Gift of Fellowship

As Jesus grew, He also "increased in favor with man" (Luke 2:52). Try these three ways to improve your relationships with people.

1. Mind your mind
             It's unavoidable. Your actions will reveal your attitude toward people. That's the message of yet another proverb: "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Prov. 23:7). Thoughts that are critical, negative, harmful, and jealous not only go against God's Word (Phil. 4:8), but they spawn actions that are critical, negative, harmful and jealous. So train yourself to think loving, positive, sweet thoughts when it comes to other people.

2. Mind your mouth
            Our relationships with people are enhanced when we follow in the steps of the Proverbs 31 woman who "opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness" (Prov. 31:26). If her thoughts weren't wise or kind, her mouth was shut!

3. Mind your manners
             The number one way to be pleasing to God and approved by man is to be the servant of all. Our servant assignment from God is to give honor and preference to one another (Rom. 12:10). Regarding others as more important than yourself gives you the mind and manner of Christ (Phil. 2:4-5).

You and I are to focus away from self and outward to others; we are to become other-oriented. To do this, as mundane as it sounds, we have to train ourselves to, for instance, stop talking about ourselves (and our children) and instead talk about the other person. We may also have to learn some good manner, because love has good manners (I Cor. 13:5).

I love what Anne Ortland says. First she writes, "There are two kinds of personalities in this world, and you are one of the two. People can tell which, as soon as you walk into a room: your attitude says either "Here I am" or There you are."...

Are you a "There you are" person, looking around for how you can encourage someone with God's love? He can make it happen as you let Him grow you into a woman after His heart.