Glaube-Hoffnung-Liebe

In every good friendship or relationship there is also a quarrel. It is important to come back to reconciliation afterwards. In my work , I have often seen how children argue, but also how quickly they reconcile and are not resentful at all. They meet as if nothing had ever happened.

It is usually different among adults. I know stories where families or friends become alienated due to an argument, break off contact, often stop talking to each other for years and avoid each other. The consequences of irreconcilability are bitterness, hatred, strife, broken relationships and breakups. I think that’s very bad and a shame, because it doesn’t have to be that way. Reconciliation is possible. Stories of reconciliation are wonderful. I’ve seen a friend make up with her mother-in-law after years. Together with a friend, we encouraged her to take the first step, to forgive and to offer her mother-in-law an offer of reconciliation. We prayed for her and with God’s help it was possible to re-establish relationship with each other.

Obstacles to reconciliation are mostly pride, arrogance and not giving in – wanting to be right. But instead it is better to try to see everyone through God’s eyes, not just to look at their faults and weaknesses.

“Do not do anything out of controversy or ambition, but be humble and respect others more than yourself!” Philippians 2: 3

Forgiveness comes before reconciliation. Forgiveness frees our heart, we can let go of negative feelings and put situations and people into God’s hands so that we are no longer burdened. If we have forgiven, we can make the other person an offer of reconciliation and, in the best case scenario, there will be a happy ending – reconciliation.

The most beautiful story of reconciliation that I know is that between God and man. Jesus came to earth to reconcile us with God. Out of love for us humans, he takes the first step towards us. He loved us first. Because there is something that separates us from God – sin. Jesus died for our sins on the cross and thus restored the access – the connection to God. If we believe in his sacrifice for us, we are reconciled to God and the relationship with God is restored.

“Through his death on the cross in human form he reconciled you to himself in order to bring you back into the presence of God and to make you holy and flawless before him. Colossians 1:22

“Christ is the atonement for our sins, not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.” “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be atone for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

“But be cordial and friendly to one another and forgive one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” Ephesian 4,32

“So we are now ambassadors on behalf of Christ, because God admonishes through us: so we now ask on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.” 2.Corinthians 5,20

Jesus’ wish was unique. He wanted to bring his children home. The Bible has a word for this desire: reconciliation. (Max Lucado) Reconciliation is the inner healing of our hearts through the love of Jesus. It is not the outward acts of baptism, confirmation or communion that reconcile a person with God. Reconciliation lies solely in repentance and conversion to Jesus Christ. (Walter Mauerhofer). Now an eternal friendship, eternal reconciliation, eternal peace and eternal love is established between God and man. If God looks at us in his Son, he cannot help but be gracious to us. (Johann Friedrich Starck)

Every day we are faced with a flood of thoughts. We think every second, we deal with the future, with the past, with the here and now, we think about ourselves and about others, about positive and negative. We think consciously, but often thoughts just roll over us. In the Bible I read the following verse about the power of thoughts:

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Sprüche 4,23

So our thoughts influence our lives. Thoughts determine our feelings, guide our actions, control our behavior. That is why it is so important to pay attention to what we think about, what we deal with, which thoughts we allow and let into us. Because there are not only good thoughts, but also bad ones. Negative thoughts about myself about my fellow human beings about the future about the past Not all thoughts come from God.

Where do these negative thoughts come from?

They can arise from past experiences. It can be imprints or beliefs that we have learned. It can also be that we have to struggle with problems e.g. at work, in the family partnership or are affected by illness. The Bible often speaks of a spiritual battle that we have to fight. In addition to the visible world, I am convinced that there is also a spiritual, invisible world in which there is a battle between good and evil, between the powers of the devil and the powers of God. This is another reason why we so often struggle with negative thoughts. The enemy wants to rob us of all the good that God gives us.

“Be sober and vigilant! Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour ”(1 Peter chapter 5, verse 8)

The only power the enemy has left over us is to roar in our minds, to confuse our minds so that we cannot see the truth of God.

What do negative thoughts do?

Negative thoughts make us feel bad. If we let our thoughts run their course and not control them, negative thought patterns, the Bible speaks of fortresses, can build up. The consequences are worries, fears, depression, bad self-esteem (self-image), victim role (constant whining or wanting to blame others).

How can I overcome negative thoughts, what tools do I get from God?

In the Word of God it says that we need to renew our way of thinking, a God-centered attitude changes our lives.

“Let yourself be changed in your thinking and completely realign yourself inwardly” Ephesians 4:23

The renewal of my thoughts doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a process. It can happen that we fall back into old thought patterns that we have built up over the years. Step by step together with Jesus we can collapse these walls of thought and decide every day for God’s thoughts, s expressing his good thoughts about our lives.

In contrast, today’s psychology says, “Get to know yourself, gain a new trust in yourself, and you will learn to think again.” There may be some truth to it, but if we really want to get to know each other, then we have to know God learn because he is our creator. Even what the esoteric promises doesn’t get me any further. In positive thinking from the esoteric New Age area, the focus is on the self. Man would create reality through his positive thinking. In biblical faith, on the other hand, Almighty God is at the center. We are not creating, but God. We trust God and not our positive thinking. God can get to know if we read the Bible, study how Jesus acted in the respective situations. We need the personal, living relationship with Jesus and fill ourselves with his thoughts of joy, peace, hope, confidence, grace, forgiveness. In this way we can let go of the past and bring it to Jesus on the cross. Bad experiences, crises that we have experienced, the unconscious no longer has to burden our lives.

Think no more of what used to be, what has passed, you should not pay attention to. Look here, now I’m doing something new. It is already emerging, do you not notice it? “(God in Isaiah chapter 43, verses 18-19) “

The word of God is alive and effective. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and penetrates our innermost thoughts and desires. It reveals who we really are and reveals our hearts to God ” Hebrew 4,11

Tools

prayer

In prayer we can direct our thoughts to God, give all negative thoughts to god, everything that burdens us to him and receive peace and good thoughts.

Praise and thank When we adopt a grateful attitude, we direct our thoughts towards the good in our life, negative thoughts lose their power.

Word of God, the Bible The truth of God’s word has the power to destroy the lies we believe.

When we have poor self-esteem, think about what we cannot and are not, we read the following verses and accept them for ourselves in faith:

“Lord, thank you for making me so wonderful and unique! Everything you have created is great – I can tell! “Psalm 139:14

“How overwhelming are your thoughts for me, O God, there are so many!” Psalm 139:17 ”

When we worry, we respond to our thoughts with the following truth:

“That is why I say to you: do not worry about your life, whether you have something to eat or drink, and about your body, whether you have something to wear! Life is more than food and drink, and the body is more than clothing! Look at the birds! They don’t sow, they don’t reap, they don’t gather supplies – but your Heavenly Father takes care of them. And you are worth much more to him than birds! How many of you can worry about adding a day to your life? And why are you worried about what to wear? See how the flowers grow in the fields! They do not work or dress themselves, but I tell you, not even Solomon, with all his wealth, was dressed as splendidly as any of them. If God equips even the wild flowers that bloom today and will be burned tomorrow, won’t He care more about you? Do you have so little trust? So don’t worry! Do not ask: ‘What should we eat?’ ‘What should we drink?’ ‘What should we wear?’ People who do not know God are plagued with all this. Your Heavenly Father knows you need all of these. Make sure you submit to his rule first and do what he asks, and then he will provide you with all the rest. So do not torment yourselves with thoughts of tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. It is enough that each day has its own burden. ”“ Matthew 6: 25-34

When we are afraid, God speaks in his word:

“God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of strength, love and prudence” 2 Timothy 1: 7

Do not be afraid for I am with you. Do not look anxiously for help, for I am your God ”Isaiah 41:10

If we are down, sad, we always have new hope, because:

“The joy in the Lord is my strength” Nehemiah 8:10

“To be close to God is my happiness” Psalm 73:28

When we are sick:

“Indeed, he bore our sickness and inflicted upon himself our pains. We are healed by his wounds ”Isaiah 53: 4-5

When we care about our children:

“The children of the righteous (those who believe in God) are blessed” Psalm 112: 2

If we agree with God’s thoughts and think more and more how he thinks, the more he can work in us, respond to our prayers and change us.

“Do not conform to the standards of this world, but let God change you so that your whole thinking is realigned. Only then can you judge what God’s will is, what is good and perfect, and what pleases him ”Romans 12: 2

“We use the mighty weapons of God and not worldly weapons to destroy human thought structures.” 2 Corinthians 10: 4

We oppose every wrong thought with the truth of God, it is not easy, it is a daily struggle and again and again a decision. Stopping thoughts, sorting out, not allowing all thoughts that come into our head and also paying attention to what we are doing, what we are looking at, what we are reading, what thoughts we give space and let go of what is not good for us. When our thoughts are constantly revolving around ourselves, what we lack, what we want, etc. we can ask God about people whom we can do good. Thinking of others, helping someone, having a good word for our fellow human beings frees us from ourselves and being there for others and doing good changes our thoughts for the better.

“Love your neighbor as yourself” Mark 12:31

Focus your thoughts wholly on those things that are true and worthy, just, pure and indecent, and deserve general approval; deal with what is exemplary and rightly praised. In all that you do, keep the message that has been given to you and that you have accepted; live as I told you and lived as I did. Then we will be the God of peace with you. ”Philippians 4: 8-9

Once upon a time there was a king who had three daughters, all of whom he loved very much, but most of them the youngest of them. He wanted to know very much whether the daughters would return his love and demanded a sign of their love from them. The next day they came before him. The eldest had a bowl of sugar in her hand and said to him: I love you as much as this sugar. The father was very happy about it. The middle one had a jar of honey in her hand and said to him: I love you like this honey. The father was also happy about this and then looked expectantly at his youngest daughter. In her hand she had a board with a little salt on it and said to her father: I love you as much as this salt. Father hadn’t expected that. If that’s your love for me, you’re not my daughter anymore, he said angrily. She had to leave the royal court and go out into the world. After wandering around for a long time, she was finally able to work as a simple kitchen maid at another royal court. Nobody knew her there, and she had to do the lowest of services. But through her kind and lovable nature and her grace, she won the affection of all with whom she had anything to do with, and finally also the love of the king’s son. He wanted to marry her – as in a fairy tale. Many kings, including the bride’s father, were invited to the wedding. But nobody knew who the bride really was, not even the king’s son, and certainly not her father. The dishes served tasted wonderful. But when the bride’s father took the first bite from his plate, he had to spit it out immediately; it tasted so bad. He asked his table neighbors to be allowed to taste their dishes – and their food was delicious. Then the king jumped up angrily and shouted that he was being fooled and wanted to leave the wedding. The bridegroom’s father came up in dismay and when he tasted the food he too had to spit it out. Then he cried out with anger: Indeed, whoever has done this will be punished with death for it. Then the bride got up and said: I have prepared the dish and instead of seasoning it with salt i seasoned with sugar and honey, and told her whole story … This fairy tale is about the importance of salt for our lives.

Salt is an important and valuable mineral for our body Salt spices and gives flavor Salt has a healing, cleansing effect Salt disinified Salt is a preservative, it makes food durable Salt is essential to life Salt makes you thirsty.

So salt makes a crucial difference. In the Bible in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5:13, Jesus said to his disciples:

“You are the salt of the earth.”

So he says to them: you can make a difference, you spread spice and taste, you preserve life, you bring a message of healing into the world. He says you are the salt of the earth, not you will be. In doing so, he gives them an identity and a mission. Jesus does not say these words to all people, but to those who believe in him, follow him, who know him, to those who have a relationship with him. Faith is much more than just believing that God exists. True faith leads to a relationship with God. It is precisely this relationship that makes the difference, is the salt in the soup.

“To all who welcomed him and believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12

In a relationship you get to know each other, maintain regular contact, you spend time together, you are interested in the other, you exchange ideas, talk and communicate with each other, you have the desire to do something for the other, you let the other participate at your life, you are close and trust in the other. It is the same in a relationship with God. The fellowship with Jesus influenced and shaped the disciples and that was also evident to the outside world.

“What you cultivate inside will come into view.” Johannes Hartl

So when we have a living relationship with God we become children of God and are the salt of the earth. Through the connection with God, when God lives in us, we carry the properties of salt in us.

“Salt is good for flavoring. But if it loses its taste, how can you make it salty again? You must have the quality of salt in you and live in peace with one another ”Mark 9:50

And so we can make a difference in our environment. As children of God, we are blessed and can be a blessing to others. God’s love for us makes us important and valuable and therefore we can love others too. We are healed through Jesus and can also pray for healing for our neighbors. Through Jesus we are free from guilt and pure and can forgive as well. By believing in Jesus we have the saving message in us and can pass it on. By being the salt of the earth, we can make others thirsty through our being. Thirsty for the water of life. It only takes a little salt to bring about a change, it does not need big words or deeds, it is enough to be aware that Christ lives in us and that his power is at work in us.

“May your speech always be sweet and seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one.” Colossians 4: 6

“You are the salt of the earth. If the salt is no longer salting, what should you use to salt? It is no longer of any use than to be thrown away and let people crush it. You are the light of the world. The city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do you light a light and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; so it shines for all who are in the house. Let your light shine before the people so that they may see your good works and praise your Heavenly Father. ”Matthew 5: 13-16

Empathy describes the ability and willingness to recognize, understand and empathize with the sensations, emotions, thoughts, motives and personality traits of another person. It feels good when we meet people who show compassion and can empathize with others, rejoice with us in good times and sympathize with us in difficult times. As a result, the joy becomes greater, as is well known, shared joy is double joy and sadness becomes lighter. Compassion is very important in all of our relationships and encounters. Empathy helps us deal with conflicts and with people who think differently from ourselves.

Scientists have found out that empathetic people live longer and happier lives. Since empathy is not always a matter of course in our everyday life, we have to decide again and again to get rid of our egocentrism and to get involved with other people.

“Treat people as you would like them to treat you” Luke 6:31

For me, the best example for empathy is Jesus. He had compassion and love for all people. For example, he took a deaf man aside and healed him away from the crowd. He didn’t want to expose him or make himself big. In the Bible in Luke chapter 7, we read the story when Jesus met a widow whose only son had just died. In verse 13 we can read:

“When the Lord Jesus saw the woman, He was deeply moved by her suffering. “Don’t cry!” He consoled her. “Luke 7:13

Also we can read the story of Lazarus. In the scriptures we read:

‘Jesus loved Martha, her sister [Mary] and [her brother] Lazarus.’ When Lazarus got sick, they sent for Jesus, but when he arrived, Lazarus had already died. Mary went to meet Jesus, fell at his feet and wept. When Jesus saw Mary wept, “he was deeply moved and shaken [and] wept” John 11: 33-35

So is God with us all today too, full of love, mercy, compassion, He is with us in joy and sorrow. He knows our feelings. Jesus can empathize with us, he experienced every emotion that we can only imagine when he lived on this earth. He knows joy, sadness, fear, courage, hopelessness, rejection, helplessness, suffering, weakness, strength, anger, anger, despair, security, security, etc. Our God is a compassionate God who understands us. His compassion for us is greater than anything that could ever happen to us. He humbled himself, laid down his glory, and was born a man to be close to us.

“Although he was equal to God in every way, he did not selfishly cling to being like God. No, he renounced it and became like a slave: He was born like any other person and was in everything a person like us ”Philippians 2: 6-7

Jesus, the Son of God, felt like us and wept like us. Yet he gave his life on the cross to save our lives. Jesus is our guide for dealing with other people. Just as we expect empathy and compassion from others, we can also pass this on to our fellow human beings, especially when we become aware of what God has done for us. Instead of criticizing, judging, or saying bad things about one another, we can learn to empathize with the other, understand their emotions, and be compassionate.