I was in-charge of training workers in my final year in the university. There was a lady I trained in the fellowship while on campus. This lady wasn't even one of those I could refer to as fervent but she was a calm person. She could be around without noticing her presence.  She loves God and we related normally as teacher to student.

Among my students then, she was older than the rest just a few were her age mates and were older than her. I discovered we were age mates too though ahead of me with a few months but I was three sessions ahead of her academically.  I left her in school and went my own way. We were not close but I greeted her occasionally.

I have started doing mission work, traveling from place to place. One day, she reached out to me telling me she's been seeing my posts about missions and she told me about her intention to introduce me to someone who loves God and would love to support missions. That was how I gained a mission partner through her.

See how it worked: I have been praying to God to send me mission partners. The person God wanted to send at that time did not know me personally but I got his link through someone I know. That is the power of relationship. What do you think could have happened If I had mismanaged my relationship with her back in school? What If I had damaged her as a brother? I may not enjoy that support from her.

I am a beneficiary of God's help through relationships I have nurtured for years. Relationships are powerful. It is the answer to most of our prayers. When God want to send some answers and open some doors for us, he sends people our way. How we manage them determines how wide the doors will open.

One problem I see with some is their inability to manage relationships. In the church, they pray a lot asking God to send helpers their way. Often, I tell people that If you are praying for helpers, you must be someone's helper too. That's not even where I am going.

Any time you pray such prayers, I want you to know that God is attentive to such prayers. Often, what he does is that he links you to that helper through those you have known or he positions one of those you know to help you. Either ways, the answer to that prayer is packaged in one word- relationship.

Helpers will not come with a special announcement. Helpers respond to quality relationships not length of prayers and fasting. If ymprayer draw helpers to you and you don't know how to nurture relationship, you'll lose them.

I don't see any sense in fighting everyone, causing trouble everywhere and still expecting people to be favourably disposed towards you. It doesn't work that way. No one wants to associate with a trouble maker. As knowledgeable as the Pharisees were, Jesus kept them at arm's length. He did not choose any of them to become his disciples though they had knowledge and influence with people. Why? They were difficult people to relate with.

The moment I notice trouble-lovers around me, I walk out of their lives quietly. I can hardly recommend someone who has a penchant for trouble to anyone. Likewise, those who lack integrity always close their own open doors with their hands.

This year and beyond, you will need the gift of men to help bring out the value in the gift of God that you possess. Nurture relationships well. That is where the answers to most of your prayers are.