Healing Family Relationships Through PrayerSample

We need to pray specifically and directly for God to bring healing to our broken relationships. Perhaps you frequently have thoughts such as, "I wish things were better with me and my father," or "I miss the good relationship I used to have with my sister." I find myself discussing my difficult family relationships with my trusted friends. I share with them my struggles and burden for the relationship, and I ask for their advice and prayers.

The sad reality is that I often spend more time talking with friends about the broken relationship than I spend talking to God about it. I spend more time asking for friends to pray for me than actually praying. Jesus invites us to pray plainly and directly when we talk with God.

The message of Jesus is not that God is like a genie in a bottle who gives us whatever we want, but rather that God invites our honest, needy prayers. We can be direct with Him. He cares about our greatest and smallest concerns. We can tell Him the desires of our hearts. Is the desire of your heart to see healing in this relationship with your family member? Your ongoing prayer might sound something like this:

"Lord, thank you that I can be direct and honest with you. Thank you that you are a good Father who cares about the desires of my heart. Right now, I desire that you would heal my relationship with _______. If I could fix it, I would. But if this relationship is going to be restored, you will have to act. Please bring healing to this relationship. Show me anything I need to do to help this happen and give me the courage to do it."

Reflection Question: Have you found yourself talking to others more about a broken relationship than bringing it to the Lord in prayer? How might God be calling you to bring things to Him first?