And the winner is....Dealing with sibling rivalry

It grieves my heart so much when these sweet girls fight. It has seemed to be increasingly worse these days and really I just want to give up. Finally today a break through came. Not from threatening or yelling. Not from taking anything away. Not from guilting or manipulating them. I confess I have tried all methods. God has been showing me sin is a heart issue. These matters are matters of the heart. I cannot change them. He alone can mold and shape hearts.

I have been crying out to God over this. I basically have to trust Him in this. I do what I can as a mom and make it very uncomfortable for them when they act bad toward one another but I cannot change their hearts. Today we received a great word about God. We have been reading through the Proverbs together and this is where we ended up:

 There are six things the LORD hates,
       seven that are detestable to him:

 haughty eyes,
       a lying tongue,
       hands that shed innocent blood,

 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
       feet that are quick to rush into evil,

 a false witness who pours out lies
       and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.~Proverbs 6:16-19

This struck a cord with them. They are doing these things that the Lord hates. The Lord does not hate them but the things that they are doing. Jesus died for those things and gives us the power in Him to overcome them. We asked forgiveness and prayed and asked the Lord to break our hearts with the things that breaks His. Today has been great since then. 

I am so amazed at how God's word is "living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" Hebrews 4:12.God's word changes things. Prayer and His word is what will change hearts. I am so thankful for His lifesaving word. I hope I continually remember this when issues arise again.

How about you? Have you seen God's word to be effective in this way?