Tag: conflict

Common Conflict

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Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18

Are you ever shocked at the ugliness which can pour out of you or your loved ones?

It’s as if sin has a literal face. And sometimes that face is your own.

Relationships really shouldn’t be all that complicated.

Jesus wants us to always put the other person first.

If we all did just that, conflict would evaporate.

If we all loved the other like Jesus loves us, we’d rejoice at serving the other.

We’d rejoice at allowing the other to choose.

We’d be happy to accommodate their reasonable wishes.

But when our flesh demands attention, when ourselves get in the way, conflict occurs.

And once it begins, one rarely wants to succeed ground to the other party, especially because they are always totally wrong, yes?

Since conflict will come yet again, what is your plan?

Will you deal as it comes? Take one for the team? Or be ready with the first punch?

Ask God how He would have you react. Before the next conflict.

Ask God to hold your temper. Ask Him to hold your words. Ask Him to hold your heart.

While we cannot control others, we can control ourselves. We can control ourselves as we invite God to have our whole selves.

When we submit to God, giving Him everything, it includes our tempers. Our wanting to rise up to defend ourselves no matter the cost.

Am I implying we should become doormats to ill? Heck no.

I am also not referring to abusive behavior towards you.

We’re talking normal everyday conflict. Most of it can be diffused by one, you, who is allowing Jesus full control of their heart, mind, and body.

Yet, often our responses invite the enemy to have a hay day with our relationships. Often our ill retorts throw fuel to a fire, which needs nothing to burn.

You are responsible for you. Within normal relationship conflict, will you throw fuel to the fire, or will you calmly stand as a wall the fire cannot penetrate?

Even if the other has lost all sense of reason, you can stay fastened to God. To His calm stand in the storm.

So before your next normal conflict arises, plan your response. Because when it comes, it’s terribly hard to choose the high road.

Choose it today. And tomorrow. And the next day. And the next.

Forgiveness seventy times seven seems an impossibility when wronged by a loved one. But it’s how Jesus wants us to respond.

After all, we have wronged Jesus many more times than that. Yet He still patiently waits for your precious, little heart, too.

Photos by Kelly Sikkema, Dirk Ribbler, & Pin Adventure Map on Unsplash

That Sneaking Feeling

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But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26

You know that feeling?

The one that says you should do something?

That nagging suspicion you should comply with?

If it’s for any sort of reconciliation or compliance with God’s way for you, that’s the Holy Spirit.

He’s whispering to you what you know you should do.

So do you do it?

Why not?

Pride.

Wanting to satisfy your pitiful flesh instead of humbling yourself.

Very tempting, I know.

It’s our natural tendency to feed our flesh instead of what God wants us to do.

Conflict within ourselves is when there’s a choice: our flesh or God.

Helps to remember a couple things.

First, life is so temporary.

The moments we have are fleeting and will never return.

Should we make those moments count, bettering our future?

Or fill the moments with ourself on the throne, never getting those wasted moments back?

And second, as God sees us behaving, what do you want to show Him?

An ungrateful attitude or someone who is learning to put others first?

Do you want to grieve the heart of God or help Him smile?

You could also flip that.

Do you want your actions to cause a win for the Enemy or make it even harder for him to have you?

That little small voice deep inside our head is the Holy Spirit.

He’s there, helping you know exactly what next to do.

The questions is, will you?

Will you listen or keep ignoring Him?

Photos by Luca Zanon, 青 晨, Robert V. Ruggiero, & Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Worshipping Even If

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

We’re all so different.

Different in personalities, the way our bodies work, and our priorities.

While singing in church last Sunday, I observed three distinct differences.

The congregation rose to worship. All but the man in front of me. Why?

The man in front of me was distracted.

He instead was sitting, reading and typing on his phone’s screen.

Not worshipping at all.

A few rows up, another man stood to worship.

Clapping in time with the music, I noticed his clap was different.

One of his arms was useless. Literally.

Yet he was clapping the best way he could by using his arm and his good hand.

He was engaged, giving his best to our Lord.

Near the alter was a third man.

His mind is not whole like mine, yet he is very sincere and kind.

He was worshipping as he knelt, arms spread wide in submission to God.

Three men. Three different responses. Two engaged, one not.

The man sitting on his phone was missing out.

Funny thing is this: he looked “normal” on the outside.

Normal body. Normal mind.

The two men engaged in worship had something “wrong” with their physical body.

But their focus was on God.

The absence of conflict creates complacency.

When our bodies function, our minds work, and we sit in relative comfort, it’s easy to rely on ourselves.

Why would we need God?

But when life isn’t perfect, or causes us to say ouch, back we rely on Him and His provision.

Let’s keep our focus fixed on God, in good times and bad.

Let’s fully rely on Him, instead of our incapable selves.

Let’s follow the example of the men, who embraced worshipping God, no matter what.

My book releases on Tuesday. Epic event in the short life of me.

But I’m like the men who have something “wrong”.

My life has not been what I pictured.

But I’d rather have my scars, because I can witness to you the faithfulness of God.

Because of the choices of others, I can testify of the goodness of God even if.

Even if life sometimes says ouch, God is still sovereign. Good. He’s the calm amidst the storm.

Our testimonies are richer when we walk with God during life’s storms.

Just like the men who chose to worship even though they looked different, let’s also choose to worship God when life looks different.

God is and was and always will be on the throne of life. Embrace Him always with yours.

Photos by Zac Durant, Guillaume de Germain, Joel Muniz, Ben White, Stephanie Klepacki, & Luis Alberto Sánchez Terrones on Unsplash