Relationships: Restoring what has been lost
1 Peter 5:5
The key to restoring broken relationships is humility. Authentic humility is loving God and loving people. It’s the one trait that keeps us in tune with God and protects us from being preoccupied with ourselves.
What do I need to do to restore a broken relationship?
1. Go vertical.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6b (NIV)
2. Affirm their value.
“Have a profound respect for each other.” Rom. 12:10b (JB)
“Do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourself.” Phil 2:3 (NCV)
How do we do that?
1. Learn how to listen
2. Learn how to validate people’s feelings.
3. Take ownership of your part.
“Each person must be responsible for himself.” Gal. 6:5 (NCV)
, “There is one vice of which no one in the world is free, which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else, and of which hardly anybody except Christians ever imagine that they’re guilty of it. There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular and there is no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. The more we have it in ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. The vice I’m talking of is pride or self conceit.’
C.S. Lewis
4. Remember they’re only human.
“You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Col. 3:13 (NLT)
‘But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise’ 2 Corinthians 10:12 (Young’s Literal Translation)
5. No one owes me anything.
“Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not demand and cling to His rights as God… Instead of this, of His own free will, He gave up all He had and took the nature of a servant.” Phil. 2:5-7 (New Living and Good News Translations)
“May God, who gives endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other by following the example of Christ Jesus.” Rom. 15:5 (GWT)
Additional Reading:
Title: Boundaries
Author: Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Publisher: Zondervan ISBN # 0310247454
Title: Safe People
Author: Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Publisher: Zondervan ISBN# 0310210844
Link for Bible translations: