1 John 4:8, He who does not love has not become acquainted with God (does not and never did know Him), for God is love.
At this meeting, we had three scenarios that the girls read and discussed. We then talked about them as a group, and here are our notes:
Problem #1
I am never happy!
Nothing ever goes my way! I never get the things that I really want in life! I guess I’ll never be satisfied and happy until I am married and running my own home. Oh, when will that day come?!
Your character will be formed by the time you are twenty, so stop and think about how you act at home right now. Your choices today are forming habits- good or bad- that you will take into your future. Every action has results.
Seek to be an energy-giver to your family. Realize that an unsatisfied heart is a stronghold waiting to happen. Ask Jesus to satisfy you. Comparison destroys contentment.
O satisfy us with Your mercy and lovingkindness in the morning (now, before we are older), that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. ~Psalm 90:14
And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. ~Galatians 6:9
Problem #2
My brother is so irritating! You would not believe how much he talks... he is constantly teasing me... he fidgets all the time and can never sit still... his room is so messy... what a cluttered person!... we seem to get in trouble a lot and my parents always tell me that I provoked him... don’t they know how big of a bother he is to me???! No one understands.
I try to act differently and want to love him, but he just never changes.
Start praying blessings on your brother - ask God to bless him with the qualities that he is lacking. Realize that you can never change another person; you can only change yourself and your perspective on the situation. Don’t try to make up your own love; cry out for the real thing: His love. Learn to yield your rights. All anger can be traced to unyielded rights. Strive to be a cheerleader for your sibling, and not their second mother.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ~Philippians 2:3-8
He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9
Problem #3
My parents are always telling me what to do. I never get a moment’s rest! I have so many responsibilities - my school work, helping out with chores, music practice... and sometimes I even have to make dinner! Everything needs to be perfect, but it’s just too much. Oh no, here comes my mom again - what is she going to ask me to do now??? Life sure is hard.
Your parents are not perfect, but you can be assured that God is and what He allows is for your good. God is big enough to change your parents heart if that is needed. Ask God to show you if you are being stubborn, rebellious or disrespectful in any way. Ask the Lord to clothe you in His humility and grace; to help you to submit & obey cheerfully and to respond respectfully. Submission places you under the protection of God. Trust in God’s sovereign plan. Appeal if necessary. Rebellion opens you up to the attack of the enemy.
But He gives us more grace. That is what Scripture says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ~James 4:6
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just and right. Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother- this is the first commandment with a promise. That all my be well with you and that you may live long on the earth. ~Ephesians 6:1-2
Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as something done for the Lord and not for men. ~Colossians 3:23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. ~1 Samuel 15:23
God commands us to love each other. Love is not an emotion, but an action. Love is the things we do, and hold back from doing. Love is an act of the will. It is His fruit of the Spirit- His love. So what are you connected to? What are you rooted and grounded in? Is your root system healthy? To thrive and grow and show love - you must have a relationship with Jesus Christ! HE IS LOVE.
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