Prayer and reconciliation with others

Shorebirds at sunset
Huntington Beach, California


Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.
~ Ephesians 4:26

Reconciliation is rich with meaning. Here are some ways the word is used:
  • Ending estrangement 
  • Two or more people ceasing conflict and agreeing to a truce
  • Bringing conflicting information, data or views into alignment
  • Uniting fragmentation to form a whole
Reconciliation comes for a Greek family of words for change in relationship. It also is used to describe how a relationships works, moving from one condition to another condition or state. The concept is to make relationships work better than they had, not just to end conflict, but in order to renew and restore wholeness. 

Initiating steps to reconcile a broken relationship mirrors God's expressed grace. The Bible is a continual story of God seeking to heal the brokenness caused by human sin.  Prayer can prepare us to take steps to heal conflict in our lives. 

Perhaps a first step to reconciliation is praying for the humility to let go of pride and to initiate healing, even when you feel the other person is in the wrong.

... forgive your brother or sister from your heart. (Matthew 18:35)

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. (Matthew 5:23-25)

So from now on we do not regard anyone according to the flesh. Yes, though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet we do not regard Him as such from now on. Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new.  All this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:16-19)

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