Some time ago, I was looking through a ten-inch-tall stack of prayer requests at my desk. As I read each request, I quickly began to see a pattern emerging. Practically 95 percent of the prayer requests on my desk were about either relationships or finances.

I was immediately reminded of a truth the Lord revealed to me several years ago. It is a truth that has impacted my life in a thousand different ways since. That truth is—you can't separate your prosperity from your relationships. The two are inextricably bound together by spiritual law.

God's Doorway
Nearly everything that comes into your life—good or bad—comes through the vehicle of relationships. When God wants to bring blessing, increase, instruction or encouragement to you, He'll almost always use a relationship to do it.

When God wants to bless you financially, He doesn't stick a giant hand out of the clouds and drop a bag of gold on your head. He'll move on someone's heart to be the instrument of that blessing.

When God wants to encourage you, you don't hear a booming voice from Heaven saying, "Be thou encouraged my child." No, He sends a brother or sister in Christ to put an arm around you, give you a squeeze and say, "I sure do appreciate you."

The same is true for every form of blessing and help God wants to give you.

The Devil's Door, Too!
Unfortunately, blessing isn't the only thing entering your life through the door of relationships.

If your relationships aren't right, trouble, heartache and disappointment will come waltzing through that door with painful frequency.

As I look back on my life, I can see that nearly every negative and destructive thing I've ever experienced has come either directly or indirectly through wrong relationships.

That's why the devil works overtime to keep your relationships from prospering. He'll do everything in his power to keep you and your spouse mad at each other. He'll pull every trick in the book to sow discord in your home, in your workplace and in your church.

The bottom line is: It doesn't matter how strong you are in the Word. It doesn't matter what a great person of faith you are. Regardless of what a powerful prayer warrior you may be...

If your relationships aren't what they ought to be, God is going to have a hard time getting good things into your life.

The Good News
Now, don't get discouraged. Sure, the devil wants to tear your relationships up if he can. But the good news is, God's Word holds some powerful promises where your relationships are concerned.

First, you need to know that it is unquestionably God's will for you to prosper in your relationships. How do I know that? Because I see in the Word that it was true of Jesus, and Jesus reflected the perfect will of the Father in every respect.

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." (Luke 2:52)

According to the Word, there are three qualities God wants your relationships to exhibit. And if you'll use your faith to cultivate these qualities, you'll find that your relationships are a wide open door of blessing.

Filled with Favor
As we saw in the verse above, one of the things God wants you to have as you relate to others is favor.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines favor as "friendly regard; approval and support." How would you like every relationship you have to be characterized by friendliness, approval and support?

Do you think that would make an impact on your situation at work or at home? You bet it would! And according to the Word, as a righteous child of God, you are entitled to be surrounded by that kind of favor. Look at Psalms 5:12: "For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield" (NIV).

Start confessing this verse over yourself. Start seeing yourself literally surrounded by a shield of the mighty favor of God.

Expect to have favor with your children. Expect to have favor with your boss, your clients and your customers. Treat others with friendliness, approval and support and expect them to do the same for you!

Permeated by Peace
Favor isn't the only thing God promises for your relationships. He also wants them to be permeated with peace.

Do you have any relationships today that aren't peaceful? Is there someone in your life that puts a knot in your stomach every time you have to be around them or talk to them? That's not "peace" and it's not God's will for you.

Look at this wonderful promise from God's Word: "When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him" (Prov. 16:7).

If God can cause your enemies to be at peace with you, just imagine what He can do with people who like you! You don't have to live with relationships that are filled with strife, discord or friction. That's not God's best for you.

Of course, that promise is conditional. But if you'll make a quality decision to walk in love where others are concerned, your ways will please the Lord. I guarantee it.

Joined in Joy
In the fifteenth chapter of John, Jesus gives us, as believers, a simple command. "Love one another." Then He gives us a promise for obeying that command. He says do it "that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11 NIV).

Do you want complete joy in your relationships? Start declaring some things to God and to yourself. Start saying, "I walk in love toward everyone I meet. I'm a giver and I prosper in all my relationships!"

Standing on the Promises with the Anointing
Like any of the promises of God, these promises concerning your relationships don't automatically bloom in your life the day you are born again. They are seeds that must be planted in your heart and cultivated through faith, confession and corresponding action.

But make no mistake, these promises are for you.

And as you make a quality decision to prosper relationally, the anointing and power of God will be released in your relationships like never before.

In fact there is an entire Psalm that directly links the anointing to good relationships. It is Psalms 133:1-3: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever."

Do you see that! The oil being poured over Aaron's head is a vivid picture of the anointing upon your life as you pursue good relationships!

What is the result of that anointing? "Life forever!" The very life of God bringing favor, peace and joy to every relationship you have.

That's my prayer for you - that you would prosper in all your relationships. As you do, it will open the door to every good thing God wants to bring into your life.

Copyright © Mac Hammond Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.