This scripture paints a picture that hasn't recently been seen in our home! Entering into the teenage years has probably got something to do with, combined with years of living with stress and uncertainty.
I know this scripture is primarily talking about brothers and sisters in Christ ....
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:AMP
But yesterday morning as I was reading this scripture in different versions of The Bible, God spoke specifically to me about the brothers and sisters in our home. After Psalm 133, He followed up with Ephesians 6:10-18, with a focus on v12 and v18
For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NLT
Amen.
Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:18 The Message
These scriptures are going on the back of the toilet door! It is a deep cry of my heart to see unity in this home. God hears the cry of our heart, sometimes before we even cry out to Him.
And it shall be that before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24 AMP
An aside, we have always encouraged our children to pray for each other, at home, in the car, and in the times when they are not with each other. I've said to them, if name comes into your mind, that may be God prompting you to pray for them, so stop and pray, even if it is a 3 second prayer, like please help name; please protect name; show your love to name. I an under no illusion that some of them do this, and some don't! But I will continue to pray that one day they all will.
But back to the story, so yesterday morning I felt that God was leading me to pray specifically into sibling unity for our home. So I did. Then I left it with Him and went on to the activities of the day and forgot about that specific prayer.
Until last night, when I went to bed and reflected on the activities of the evening .... some of the children and I found ourselves sitting listening to one do their piano practice. A rare occasion - the sitting listening, not the piano practice. When the practice was complete, a discussion started, a respectful discussion where they took turns listening and speaking! And then there was laughter, lots of laughter! About 30 minutes went by without an unkind word.
Thirty minutes to treasure. Thirty minutes that gave me hope that God is at work, building unity between brother and sister. I know that there is a long way to go, but I am so grateful for what He orchestrated last night, and that glimpse of unity. I will keep trusting Him.
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways, recognise, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and pain your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP
And I will keep praying, laying them down at the foot of The Cross, and believing that God is doing a transforming work, bringing beauty from ashes. We will keep leaning on Him for wisdom and the grace to love and heal.
Question for today, what is the cry of your heart? In your quiet times with God what has His response been? What has He asked you to do?
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our Fortress and High Tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 46:7 AMP
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