Watchful in Prayer: For Family and Relationships

Read It

Matthew 24:45-51

Meditate On It 

1. What did the master instruct his servants to do? (v45)  
2. What does the faithful and sensible slave do? Who does this person represent and what is his reward? (vv 45-47) 
3. What does the evil slave do? Who does this person represent and what is his consequence? (vv 48-51) 
4. A “household” may mean your own family, the closest relationships that you have, and your sphere of influence. Who are the people that the Lord has entrusted to your care?

We are called to be faithful servants in the home. God has put us in charge of our certain households or areas of influence and has instructed us to steward these properly, knowing that He will reward those who serve Him. Ultimately, we answer to the Lord for how faithful or unfaithful we have been in taking care of those around us, including our family and relationships.

Apply It 

1. In what ways have I failed to serve in my household or sphere of influence? Take the time to confess it to the Lord and seek His mercy. 
2. How can I serve those around me more faithfully? Take the time to pray for wisdom and direction from the Holy Spirit. 
3. By faith, I will cultivate better relationships through…

Set Simple, Measurable, Appropriate, Realistic, Time-bound (SMART) commitments

Example: “Rather than be on my mobile device or watching TV, I will choose to invest time in conversation with my spouse and children in family meals starting this week.”

Pray It 

• Ask God to use you as a channel of His love to your relatives and family members:
      
  • To be a better and more Christ-like family member, spouse, parent, child, etc. 
  • To steward our families and households in the ways of the Lord. 
  • To exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). 
  • To glorify and praise God in all things, even in the difficult relationships in our families.   
• Let us confess our tendency to take our families for granted, to ignore conflicts or relational tensions, as well as our unforgiveness towards those who have hurt us, especially in our family. 
• Take the opportunity to pray with your family:
  
  
  Encourage and appreciate one another for their good qualities and actions. Take the time to ask one another: “How can I improve?” then lift each other up to the Lord.