The Spiritual Shift: 21 Days of Realigning Relationships
Relationships are complicated.
This is an obvious understatement, and yet we often give–and receive–the pithy advice, “Just build a strong relationship, and it will all work out…”
Excellent sentiment, and yet what do these words even mean? A strong relationship. A relationship is, quite simply, a connection. That’s it. A Connection. So if I want to build a strong relationship, I need to make sure I have a strong connection. This seems simple enough, so why are relationships so complicated?
A connection–a relationship–requires two willing parties. The state of any relationship is dependent upon the efforts of both parties to maintain that connection.
If we are honest, we can probably all admit to the quality of one or more of our relationships being based upon the concept of “What have you done for me lately?” Let’s face it. We can be selfish. We often look out for our own interests. We often develop a stronger relationship with someone who benefits us, and we can be guilty of letting a relationship fade when it doesn’t.
Thus, the 21-Day Spiritual Shift! Let us be purposeful and spend the next 21 days assessing–and strengthening–our relationships. We will divide the focus of our 21 days as follows:
Week 1: Days 1-7 Spiritual Focus→Let’s realign our spiritual relationships.
Week 2: Days 8-14 Personal Focus→Let’s realign our relationships with people.
Week 3: Days 15-21 Material Focus→Let’s realign our relationship with “stuff.”
Assessment: Each day we will honestly assess the state of a current relationship. We will be asking the following:
What is the purpose of this relationship?
What is the current state of this relationship? What is going well? What isn’t?
What changes need to be made to this relationship?
Adjustment: Read and reflect on Bible verses in order to shift our focus from a worldly view to a spiritual view.
Alignment: Pray. Communicate with the Almighty.
We will use two verses from Scripture to guide our entire 21-day journey.
Psalm 46:10
“He says, Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.”
I love that these verses bluntly establish the foundation of our relationship with God. The relationship–the connection–needs to be built on this fact: God is God and I am NOT God. I am a mere mortal. I need to take time to be still and stop trying to be in control of everything.
The verse from Micah also establishes the expectation that God has for us. It is not that difficult, and yet, we make it so very complicated. God wants us to do three simple things: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.
Throughout this experience we will also be relying upon the following promise from God’s Holy Word:
“...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” ~2 Chronicles 7:14
We are out of balance. Our personal lives and our world reflect this. Isn’t it worth the effort to try to turn this around by turning to God’s Word and the promises it contains?
Let us fully appreciate the guidance for the process that God provides in His Holy Word.
Psalm 119:10-16
"I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, LORD;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word."
Let us take the next twenty-one days to honestly and humbly evaluate where we are and spiritually shift into a right relationship with our God, with others, and with our “stuff.” We can do this.
I am excited that you have chosen to join this exciting Spiritual Shift!
