Praying for Community: Honesty and Relationship

June 25, 2017 ~ Prev | Intro | Next

During June we are concentrating on prayers that strengthen community. This week we will focus on the virtues of honesty and relationship.

The ability to speak to one another in honesty is an essential element of relationship and community. Honesty requires the integrity to speak the truth in love to those around us, as well as to hear it from others and through self-examination. Relationship involves a commitment to grow in community, to be willing to bear one another’s burdens and help one another grow in the likeness of Christ, offering forgiveness and love.

John Wesley encouraged members of the Methodist societies to hold one another accountable by engaging in close questioning of our spiritual lives. Questions of honesty and Christian relationships feature in several of them.

Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

Do I confidentially pass onto another what was told me in confidence?

Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I going to do about it?

When did I last speak to someone about my faith?

This week, use Wesley’s questions as a starting point to pray about your relationships. In particular, focus on praying for a stronger, healthier, and more loving community at Christ UMC.

Lord, make us what you want us to be.