Daily Archives: April 16, 2012

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3 Practical Tips For Family Harmony

Would you like to see less hostility and more warmth in your household? 3 Critical steps dramatically improve the general harmony of a home. From the single person, to the family with ten kids, these tips work with a divine design and a practical precision. Does your family do all three?

“Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss, (greet believers warmly). I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.” 1 Thessalonians 5:25-28

Why would God have Paul end his epistle in Thessalonians with this charge? It’s one of those…and here’s the last but not least type of things. Something has to be last. Something has to be first. It’s order does not diminish its importance.

I recently entered my friend’s home, who lives with her parents, and was greeted at the door with giant hugs from everyone in the home. I hardly know all those members, but I felt like I was walking into the gates of heaven! What a warm greeting! I knew they were doing these three steps.

Daily Victories Start with Prayer

Tip #1: “Brethren, pray for us.” Remember most of the churches, in that day, were in homes. When you enter a home, you can tell right away if they (the head of the home) prays for you at the dinner table or in quiet times. The children act different, the parents act different.

Tip #2: Greet the brethren warmly! Warm greetings start with warm prayers! The greeting is inviting and comfortable when that family prays for you. Folks, we’re in this battle together. The devil works overtime dividing people, from fellowship with each other and their fellowship with God. He starts in the home. He starts in your own prayer life. When you are tempted to criticize, condemn, or complain about someone in your church or family–pray for them instead. Get in that habit early, and show your children how to do the same. It will transform your home and thwart the enemy on the most basic level. (If you haven’t done this with your kids, start now. Doing the Word, is like pro-rating a blessing. It never comes back void.)

Tip #3: Read this epistle to every brethren. Where? Where do you greet them? What’s the context here? At home. Your family is the nucleus of God’s family. Are you reading the Word, aloud in your home? Reading something this powerful, transforms the very air we breathe! Give that to your children for breakfast. My mom started us off with breakfast together, and a short Bible study for years. Sometimes that was the best part of my teenage day! Then when you top it off with prayer. Wow! Now, there’s a family I want on my team! No weapon formed against them will prosper! The very next comment is; and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Why? Because you’re doing this stuff.

Bonus Tip: Say Amen. Did you know, Amen means “so be it.” What a great last word to any prayer huh! When you teach your kids to end prayer with, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen, (so be it) you’re making a powerful statement to the adversary about who’s in charge of your home and life. Then if you ask God what to pray for, for that person, you’ve really changed the game.

You can only affect change in one person, and that’s yourself. Your change causes a ripple that will touch all those around you. Even if no one else stands on God’s Word, stand therefore. (Ephesians 6) Do it yourself and watch how it changes everything around you.

God Bless You and Your Family Today!

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