Tag: The Miracle of Good Relationships

‘A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.’ Proverbs 15:1(NLT)

‘Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. ‘ James 1:19-20(NLT)

The book of Proverbs is overflowing with excellent advice for our daily lives, whether it be about our relationships, lifestyles, or the choices we make…

Proverbs 15 shares great secrets with us about how to resolve the circumstances of anger we all encounter at some point every week. It says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (see Proverbs 15:1)

With God’s help, you can respond to hurtful words with soft, gentle answers. Rather than letting anger get the upper hand, go to the Lord again and ask Him for strength and the words to say.

Another key is found in James 1:19-20, which says, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

In taking these words to heart, not only will you grow in self-control and the management of your emotions (rather than letting them control you), but you will also be brought into a place of peace in your relationship with the person involved. Yes, God can use you to bring peace into situations where anger would have taken over!

Today and in the days to come, I challenge you…be slow to speak, and when you do, answer kindly and gently. 

May your mouth be filled with words that convey peace and love. Be an ambassador of God’s love…may your words bring healing today!

Thanks for existing!
Eric Célérier

from The Miracle of Good Relationships

‘Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.’ Proverbs 10:12(NLT)

‘Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.’ 1 Corinthians 13:7(NLT)

You know just as well as I do, I’m sure, that as long as we’re on this Earth, unfortunately, we run the risk of being hurt by others or hurting them ourselves. Simply because we are humans, and thus liable to make mistakes.

Regardless, don’t let others’ hurtful words or malicious actions develop into bitter poison in your life. You are worth so much more than this!

The Bible encourages you, not to disregard or overlook the offense, but to choose the path of forgiveness rather than that of resentment and vengeance. Here’s what Proverbs 10:12 says: “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” Another version says, “love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another’s faults],” and another that “love makes up for all offenses.”

In other words, what you can do, when someone hurts you, is to cover his/her faults. It’s a bit like covering an object with a cloth so that it’s no longer visible. Continuing with this comparison, you can cover the person who hurt you with a “coat” of love that will hide his/her faults from your sight. Then ask the Lord to renew and transform your perspective concerning that person.

Love covers absolutely all sins. I believe that God is helping you, enabling you to accomplish this gesture of love today.

“[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)

Thanks for existing!
Eric Célérier

from The Miracle of Good Relationships

‘and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.’ Matthew 6:12(NLT)

Today, we’re going to discuss what you can do when a relationship is broken. Arguments happen to everyone, but it is possible, with both parties’ agreement, to be on good terms once again. In order for this to happen, it’s absolutely necessary to rebuild the trust that had been damaged or even completely destroyed. And to get there, it’s important to recognize the wrongs done, and then succeed in forgiving the other person.

Forgiveness is, in fact, essential in re-establishing trust. Without it, the broken relationship cannot be restored. Here is what you can do…

• Present your problem to the Lord. Tell Him your wound or write it down. Be completely transparent. Ask Him to help you forgive.
• Then, in His presence, choose to forgive because, as Jesus taught us to pray, “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
• Finally, make a declaration before the Lord that you have forgiven. And if you wrote it on a piece of paper, shred it or burn it up (without setting the house on fire, of course!).

When you forgive, from that point forward, you are free from offense, and the pain will start to diminish and then completely go away.

Sometimes we might be tempted to say, “I’m going to wait until the person comes to me to ask forgiveness, and then I’ll forgive!” Unfortunately, in these circumstances, if that person never comes, we remain prisoners and we suffer.

Don’t deny yourself the freedom that accompanies forgiveness. You were born to be free, to enjoy the life that God has reserved just for you. Don’t allow unforgiveness to steal your life, your joy, from you any longer…Forgive! God will help you to release true forgiveness. Know that He will do it if you ask Him!

Thanks for existing!
Eric Célérier

from The Miracle of Good Relationships

‘Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.’ Psalms 139:14(NLT)

Learning to accept the person that I am, that I am desired by God, is essential and key. And I dare even say…loving oneself is important! It’s not about saying, “I’m better than everyone else.” Now that would be pride. Rather, it’s saying, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14) That’s gratitude, and even more…it’s in the Bible!

It may be difficult for you to proclaim these words because of a painful past or hurtful words that were spoken over you…Yet, know this: God wants to heal how you see yourself. His love can heal all wounds: those of the past, those of the heart, and those of the body. 

This is why I declare today…your view of yourself is going to change! It will be in agreement with what God says about you. Proclaim it with strength: “God, I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well!”

I appreciate you, my friend, and I thank God for you!

Thanks for existing!
Eric Célérier

from The Miracle of Good Relationships

‘And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”’ Mark 12:30-31(NLT)

Does a “miracle recipe” for having good relationships exist? That’s a good question!

The answer can be found in this: good relationships are founded upon the relationship we have with God and with ourselves. 

The Bible tells us, “‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart’…‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Mark 12:30-31) In other words, I need to receive the love that God has for me, and I also need to learn to love myself…that’s how I can love others. 

So, there are 3 levels of relationships:

1. First is your relationship with God,
2. Then comes your relationship with yourself,
3. And finally, your relationships with others!

Everything flows from your relationship with God (the first level). If your relationship with Him isn’t well established, it can give rise to difficulties in your relationships and interactions with others. It’s clear to see…we can only give what we ourselves have already received. 

This is why I invite you to believe in God’s love for you and accept it. He is able to give you all the love you need. Receive His love again today! 

Thanks for existing!
Eric Célérier

from The Miracle of Good Relationships

‘Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” ‘ Genesis 2:18(NLT)

Have you ever asked yourself why relationships are so important to God? As I wrote yesterday, God is a God of relationships. God created man to be in relationship with Him. Then, God created Eve so that man would not be alone. (Genesis 2:18) “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’”

God’s desire is for us to be in relationship. God’s plan is that we have good, strong relationships with Him, with ourselves, and with others. That is why every relationship requires constant effort and attention. It’s a bit like a plant…it has to be watered, taken care of at regular intervals, to blossom and grow. This is true for marriage as well as our relationships with our neighbors, children, coworkers, etc. It’s also true for our relationship with God. 

God wants you to have great relationships with those around you. So, what are you going to do today to maintain and develop good, healthy relationships? Smile, write someone a note, make a phone call, send a kind text, give a helping hand, speak a word of encouragement, etc. It’s up to you!

Thanks for existing!
Eric Célérier

from The Miracle of Good Relationships

‘Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.’ Romans 12:18(NLT)

I’d like to share with you a conversation I had with God that really taught me about the place of relationships in my life…

One day, while I was taking a walk through a forest in North Carolina, the Lord asked me this question:

“Eric, how do you measure success in ministry?”

• “That’s easy,” I said. “Millions of people whose lives have been changed! Lots of people. Great fruit!”
• “Would you like to know how I measure success?” the Lord asked me.
• “Yes,” I answered.
• “For you, your measure of success is a huge number…How many persons are there in Me?”
• “Three: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
• “Is that a huge number?”
• “No, it’s a small number…but you’re a huge God!”
• “When I created man, how many did I create?”
• “Just one…Adam.”
• “And is that a huge number?”
• “No…”
• “When I created a companion for Adam, how many did I create?”
• “One. Eve…”
• “The way I measure success is not the same as yours, Eric…”

That day, I understood that God’s measure of success is…relationships. If what we’re doing to achieve a “huge” impact breaks or damages relationships, it’s pointless. God loves you and wants you to have good, strong relationships and be in peace with others. “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)

Are you having difficulties in this area? If so, I invite you to pray with me…“Lord, I humbly come before You, believing that You are a rewarder of those who diligently seek You, that You are the God who hears and answers prayers. Lord, help me to have good, strong relationships with those around me: my family, my friends, my coworkers…I pray that all my relationships are saturated with Your love and Your grace. In Jesus’s powerful name, amen.” 

Thanks for existing!
Eric Célérier

from The Miracle of Good Relationships