Your Computer vs Your Relationship

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

'Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." 

Several times throughout my personal and professional life I have had this happen to me but today it dawned on me the comparison between this "thing" happening often and our human relationships.  

What is that "thing" I am referring to?

The COMPUTER and everything associated with it...  Technology in general!

When I came to work this morning and attempted to log on as always to my desktop computer, it read: Not connected” and it showed a picture of a heart that was broken.  I am sure many of you have experienced the same thing with your desktops, laptops, mobile devices ( cell phones, tablets, etc.).   

You know right there and then, I realized that...this is the situation in so many lives. Our main text above speaks to marriage, friendship, family relationships.  These relationships are oftentimes being broken or severed "no longer connected" for one reason or the other.  In divorce proceedings, you will hear the attorney or couples telling the judge that due to irreconcilable differences, the marriage has been dissolved.  Sad isn't it?   When your computers or devices are not connecting, the Internet isn't responding, all kinds of technical issues is going on, what do you do?  You get frustrated right, if you are at work or school, you contact your IT department, technical support to try to figure out what is causing the disconnect, and then the issue is eventually resolved that day hopefully! 

Let me ask you this, are you quick to give up on finding a resolution to the computer issue? Are you in a hurry to destroy or discard the device?   If your answer is “No” to these questions,

then why are we so quick to give up on human relationships?  Why can't we work diligently at it to make it work like the devices that we use daily?   Isn't our personal relationships and even professional relationships more meaningful than a "thing" a non-living object?     Yes, our devices are essential to our daily functioning or living, but it can’t be compared to our relationships.  Our God is a God of relationships, of companionship and He created us not only for WORSHIP of Him but to also do life with each other; for fellowship, healthy interactions.  So why are we so in a haste to throw our human relationships away, I ask again?

Friends let us do a rethink of the way we treat each other.  It’s time to hold our families, friendships, marriages, and other relationships in high esteem.  Let us strive to build and maintain our relationships.      There are definitely times when we strive to maintain certain relationships and in the end it just doesn’t produce the results we hoped for... It’s okay, it happens.   As long as you know you have done your best and sought the Lord's help in that situation, then it’s time to let go and Let God take control.   In some unique situations, the Lord may be telling you to disassociate yourself from that person or persons for a purpose. If that is the case, believe me, He will reveal it to you in one way or the other. You just need to be sensitive to what is going on around you as it relates to the relationship or relationships and be sensitive to His voice and leading.  He will surely speak to your spirit man.

So, what is my intended message for all of us as we enter a new year and decade? 

Fight for your godly marriages
Value your relationships.
Strive to make peace with those who have offended you and vice versa.
Appreciate the people in your life more.
Utilize every opportunity you have;  let the people in your life know how much they mean to you.

At the same time, please be mindful of the type of relationships you are in (of course, you cannot choose your family, relatives), but you can choose your friends, spouses, working buddies, etc.  So regardless of the relationship, ask the Lord for wisdom in dealing with all relationships.  Relationships that appear toxic and damaging to your life, let go of them, keep your distance and allow God to take control of everything.

Do your best in being the best friend, spouse, daughter, niece, cousin, the colleague you can be and leave the rest. 

Have a beautiful Christmas and a glorious New Year.

Intimacy with God, Spending Quality time with Him.

  Heb 4:16, James 4:8a
 by Kemi O.

It is obvious that some people are closer to the Lord than others and its been like that since biblical times e.g Abraham, David, Moses etc.  You begin to wonder why does these ones seem to have a closer relationship with the Lord? or why is that they are hearing from God clearly, what is it that they are doing that I am not?
Is it that God has favorites? Is He a respecter of persons? The answer is No, because the scripture tells us that He is not a respecter of persons Rom 2:11 and we, not God determine our own level of intimacy with Him.  God is not going to force himself on us  but He has freely invited us into His presence  to fearlessly and boldly come unto the throne of grace that we may receive mercy for our failures and find grace to help in good times for every need. Heb 4:16 amplified.  This verse in scripture indicates that each one of us can be as close to God's throne of grace as we choose to be.
 In order to have a closer relationship with the Lord, we have to be willing to spend quality time with Him.   It also depends on how much time you are ready to commit to  pursuing a relationship with Him.  God does not ask for all our time, just a portion of it in which He can spend time guiding and directing us, revealing important things to us, enjoying our praises and worship etc.  I have found out from personal experience that the best time of the day to give to the Lord is early in the morning before my day begins.
I receive strength, guidance, refreshment from above that will carry me through the day and it always feels good.  The day I forget or postpone my quiet time with the Lord, I do not feel good at all, things just seem to be out of balance and I have to ask God for mercy by the end of the day. 

As christian women, especially we, mothers who are constantly busy with not just our careers but household chores, children's activities etc, our goal should be to have proper balance in order to live healty and fulfilling lives.  I know it appears almost impossible to juggle both our time with the Lord, family and career, church activities etc,  but the Lord has designed us ( body, spirit & soul) to accomodate all however, we need to ask Him for the strength to live balanced lives.

 I believe the whole issue of intimacy with God is a matter of how we chose to spend our time.   Look at the story of Mary and Martha, Luke 10:40-42.  Martha chose to spend her time by serving,  being burdened with the cooking, cleaning etc, while her sister, Mary chose to spend her time with Jesus learning more about the kingdom of God.  It is not that Martha's service to the Lord was not acceptable to Him, but at that point in time, it was not a priority to the Lord for He had preferred her to do the same as Mary. 

A lot of times, we argue that there is not just enough time in the day and so therefore it's not easy to commit to spending quality time with the Lord but yet, we take time to do other things that are important to us.  Women, we need to fight distractions that are around us on a  daily basis to protect our time with the Lord.  No matter how busy we get, we should always remember how important our God is, He has to take top priority in our lives for all that we have is from Him  and all that we are is because of Him.  The enemy knows that when we have an intimate relationship with our God, it makes us stronger believers and alert in the spirit and able to discern between good and evil, which makes us dangerous to the kingdom of darkness. As a result, satan tries to do everything in his power to distract us from spending quality time with the Lord.

In order to experience intimacy with God, we must be ready to give up time for Him, quality time.  A commitment to spend time with Him is as serious as any other commitment we could ever make in our lives.  The Lord reveals in Psalm 27:8 that  He is a vital necessity in our lives.   If we say we love the Lord with all our heart, then we should be eager to be in His presence as often as possible.  Matt 22:37

The quality of our lives as women is greatly affected by  the time we spend with God.  As a result of spending time in His presence, we become effective in our prayer lives and more knowledgeable of who He is, fruitful and productive in our homes, careers, ministries, etc.  Sisters, it is time to enjoy an intimate, loving relationship with our God. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Jam 4:8a

Let us come boldly into His presence for He is ready to spend as much time with us as we allow Him to and the Lord will help us by His Holy Spirit to achieve this in Jesus name.

Shalom!