Church without fellowship isn’t really church. When we try to “do ministry” in a vacuum, we’re missing out. There are a myriad reasons for wanting out of relationships, but our lives are richer when we invite people in. We experience similar abundance when we invite God in. During this devotional, Rita Springer shares from her heart about the importance of cultivating relationship with God first and His people second.

We come to church as humans in need of grace and sanctification. So how do we see the beauty of God’s bride beneath the rubble of our baggage and bitterness? In this devotional, Rita offers wisdom for those tough love moments we encounter in ministry and our personal faith journeys.

We often hear that we’re supposed to speak the truth in love, but this tends to be something we refrain from practicing. Why? Because it’s awkward. Confrontation is inconvenient. Yet we need these hard conversations to identify blind spots and move toward growth. For this teaching, Rita uses her own experience to build a case for honest, courageous leadership.

To wrap up this devotional, Rita provides some practical tips for navigating the rocky road of relationships. We must acknowledge that addressing problems and maintaining boundaries can require intense soul work. It’s okay if things like conflict resolution don’t come naturally; but we press on with the discernment of the Holy Spirit because God has commanded that we love one another as ourselves.