{"id":2266,"date":"2021-12-10T13:43:54","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T18:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/godtoolsapp.com\/?p=2266"},"modified":"2021-12-15T08:59:55","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T13:59:55","slug":"how-to-start-spiritual-conversations-with-someone-in-your-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/godtoolsapp.com\/vi\/2021\/how-to-start-spiritual-conversations-with-someone-in-your-family\/","title":{"rendered":"How to start spiritual conversations with someone in your family"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The family context causes its own particular challenges when it comes to having spiritual conversations. You might expect a negative reaction, an awkward situation, hard questions or even an argument.<\/p>

Talking with a family member can often lead to the feeling of \u201cOh no, here we go again.\u201d<\/p>

So how can you go about this in a way that\u2019s less likely to cause tension?<\/p>

How you think about conversations with your family is as important as the actual words you choose.<\/p>

Here are three ingredients to having the right mindset about spiritual conversations with a family member:<\/p>

1. Forgiveness<\/h3>

If there is tension in the relationship, it becomes much harder to have an open and honest conversation, especially about spiritual things.<\/p>

Forgiveness does not mean excusing the other person\u2019s behavior if that person hurt you in some way.<\/p>

Forgiving the other person demonstrates God\u2019s love by keeping the door open to relationship. This paves the way for honest conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Frame\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

2. Humility<\/h3>

It\u2019s easy to make wrong assumptions about people in our family.<\/p>

Practice humility in a spiritual conversation by being curious.<\/p>

The more curious you are, the more the other person will realize you\u2019re genuinely trying to understand him or her.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

3. Patience<\/h3>

With your family, you can take a longer-term approach to talking about your faith.<\/p>

Think about each time you discuss your beliefs as part of an ongoing conversation.<\/p>

Try not to worry about covering the whole gospel in one discussion.<\/p>

God is working in this person\u2019s life.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

What makes talking about faith with your family so hard?<\/h3>

Click an answer below to see our suggestions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMy family thinks my faith is unimportant.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Focus on talking about why following Jesus matters to you and how he changed your life.<\/p>

You can listen patiently and show respect, even if the other person does not.<\/p>

Give yourself time to think about how you see God working in your life. Then you\u2019ll be ready to share that with your family.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConversations with my family feel superficial and uninteresting.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Even small talk can help you learn more about your family.<\/p>

Ask about special memories they have or past experiences to keep the conversation moving toward meaningful things.<\/p>

Consider asking a question like, \u201cWhat\u2019s a favorite memory you have from childhood?\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMy relationship with my family is not strong enough for us to talk about faith together.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Focus on being interested in them and things they care about. This helps you build a connection and creates a platform for talking about deeper things.<\/p>

Try writing down things to pray about for each family member. Make time each day to pray for them.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConversations about religion always end in arguments.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Approach your family member with a desire to understand his or her position, rather than defend your own.<\/p>

If the conversation feels like it\u2019s becoming an argument, pause. You might need to come back to it later.<\/p>

Alternatively, you could ask the other person why he or she thinks the tone of your conversation is changing.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI struggle to overcome cultural or generational differences with this family member.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Try to understand why the person thinks the way he or she does.<\/p>

Is there a topic or issue you can start a conversation about to help you understand your family member better?<\/p>

Ask a question like, \u201cHow did you come to think that way about this issue?\u201d or \u201cWhat\u2019s the most important part of this issue to you?\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Remember, your past experiences of talking about faith with your family do not have to determine what future conversations look like.<\/span><\/p>

God is working in your family. The way people think or feel about God and faith can change over time.<\/p>

Be ready for the conversations you hope to have. Then trust God to create opportunities.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Explore more GodTools Lessons<\/h3>

This content was adapted from one of the Lessons available in the GodTools app.<\/p>

Watch this video to find out how GodTools Lessons help you have the conversations you\u2019re praying for.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t