Decorate Your Heart- Reconciliation

What is it about family that can strike a nerve like no one else can? They know us so well, and are so familiar with our faults and weaknesses. It's a blessing and a curse at the same time.
On Sunday, my brother and I had a little face-off. To be honest, I'm not even sure I can pinpoint exactly what started it. It was probably just an offhand comment that went awry. But, what started out innocently enough turned into angry words, closed hearts, thoughts that I don't even want to admit existed.


I felt miserable. I've gone through the past 2 days thinking over what happened, simultaneously angry at my brother and at myself. And today, two days later, I was still feeling the nudge of the Holy Spirit. I wanted to spend time in God's word, but realized that I needed to be reconciled first. How can I enter into the presence of One so holy, so gracious, when my own heart is harboring bitterness?

So, I made the call. And the words were healing, transforming, renewing. We spoke, we listened, we set down our weapons and let the reconciliation happen. The enemy may love to see us war with each other, but God's love of reconciliation is even stronger. It is amazing to see Him work in our human situations, and feel His love emanate when we obey his gentle prodding.

Sometimes, reconciliation can't happen on both sides. But I'm determined to be at peace with others as much as possible. I want my home to be a place where friends, family, loved ones can come and meet and truly experience God's love. Instead of holding onto bitterness and nursing grudges and letting that permeate our home, I want to be in the business of reconciliation.


Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."