The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door

by Jay Pathak

With this in mind, we suggest some steps to take when you have problems in your neighborhood. Identify the issue and assess its severity. Then begin from a posture of humility. Maybe the conflict is just as much your fault as it is your neighbor’s. Ask yourself, Is there anything I could have done differently in this situation? Start with yourself when trying to identify the issue. Choose to obey Jesus’s command to pray for those who are your enemies. Begin to pray for your neighbor’s well-being. Pray that God will make a way for you to be reconciled. Pray that God will change your heart and convict you of anything you could have done differently. As you pray, think about all of the people you have hurt in the past. Think about the kind of prayers they’ve prayed about you that you would like God to answer. If you’re convicted by God of wrongdoing, look for an opportunity to apologize for your part in a matter. A genuine apology can be incredibly disarming and go a long way toward restoring relationships and bringing peace to a situation. Go the extra mile. Ask yourself what it will take to continue to live near your neighbor, to genuinely lean in and love this person unconditionally. Ask yourself: What’s the most loving thing I can do for this person? And then do it.