“O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, and I was afraid. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” 

(Habakkuk 3:2)

“I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first; I can see your constant improvement.” 

(Revelations 2:19)

Woah! We are halfway already into 2024. It has been a journey of grace so far. Indeed, myFather’s House has been in God’s spotlight this year. Glory to God! I trust that we are all taking proactive steps towards rebuilding the different areas of our lives, family, church and society that God has laid in our hearts. Grace is sufficient for us in Jesus’ name.

So as we enter into the second half of this glorious year, what is the Holy Spirit communicating to us? Over the past six months, God has taken us through various precepts. The question now is: how much of what we have learned have we put into practice? Similar to many organisations, this is a time for a mid-year review—a moment to reflect on what has been achieved in relation to our set goals and, more importantly, to consider what can be improved moving forward. Therefore, this month, the Holy Spirit is urging us to look inward and conduct a HALF-TIME REVIEW. This review will focus on family: its dynamics, variations, imperfections, revival, togetherness, and understanding.

The family is a crucial unit; it is the bedrock of society. Unfortunately, many homes, even within the body of Christ, are dysfunctional. As we heed the call to rebuild, we must assess the different dynamics within our families. What is the state of the parent-child relationship? How do siblings relate to each other? What about the relationship between husband and wife? Is one spouse bearing the burden of the family alone? Is there a passive party or an imbalance? Is there any form of abuse? Are the unity and peace of the home threatened? What efforts are being made to repair these breaches? Is there fire on the prayer altar? Is there even a prayer altar? Is there mutual respect? Is the atmosphere in your home tense?

We must understand that for every family that appears to be perfect, there has been significant work, sacrifices, compromise, submission, and acceptance of responsibility. Many of us desire our homes to be a certain way, yet we are not willing to do what it takes to achieve that. Jesus said that if we are Abraham’s children and want to claim his blessings, we must do what Abraham did (John 8:39). We must be willing to learn from the mistakes of others, and apply timeless and proven principles to see our marriage and family-life thrive.

Another crucial point is that our family dynamics are heavily influenced by our culture, traditions, family history, exposure, and learned skills, among other factors. Most people are shaped by what they saw and experienced while growing up. Thankfully, redemption means our background no longer has to define us. By submitting to the Lordship of Christ and yielding to His Spirit, we can unlearn and relearn, becoming better parents, spouses, children, and examples. In Christ, we learn to adopt a heart and posture of humility and selflessness, a disposition of grace, giving and receiving forgiveness (Eph 4:31-32). Through redemption, we belong to a new family, the family of God (Eph 1:5). Our family dynamics within the body of Christ should reflect the unity of Christ. We are expected to love, serve, encourage, and pray for one another. Jesus said that those who are members of His family are those who do His will (Mark 3:31-35).

This month, God wants to restore broken homes and teach us the culture and attitude of love, grace, and selfless living. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation and calls us to live peaceably with others (2 Corinth 5:19; Romans 12:18). We need His wisdom to handle disputes and discern when to distance ourselves, especially in toxic relationships, as healing cannot occur in the same environment that caused the hurt (Gal 5:14-15). Ultimately whatever we do, that is our responses to grievances, misdeeds, or issues, must come from a place of love, not bitterness, anger, or revenge (Heb 12:15). Indeed, His grace is sufficient for us all.

The series of study this month will focus on dynamics, variations & imperfections of the family; the glory of the youth; togetherness & revival in the family. Shalom!