By Keith Chandler, Journey Christian Church
If there’s one area we need to allow God to transform us from the inside; it’s in the way we deal with conflict with those who are wired so differently than us.
I want to make this as practical as I can with some wisdom about dealing with conflict with people who are different from you. Because God’s way is so much wiser, let me just give you 4 things.
1. I will act, not react.
We have different ways of reacting. Some of us explode. We lose our temper, let it fly, and raise our voice. Others react with the silent treatment.
Psalm 141:3 says, “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
If your lips are like a door, that means there’s a hinge. You can open it and you can shut it. And the way we have to start when that conflict arises is by going to God first. God, put a guard over my mouth. God, watch over the door of my lips. I will act, not react.
2. I will focus on the good things in you.
You say, “I don’t see anything good in that person right now.”
Here’s what I want to say to you (and I mean it sincerely): that is a lie, straight out of Hell itself. The Bible says Satan is the father of all lies. I think there’s spiritual warfare sometimes going on in our relationships. The evil one gets us thinking things about this other person that are just not true.
The Apostle Paul has this wisdom in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Focus on those things in the other person before you blow this whole thing out of proportion.
3. I will apply God’s grace to you.
“I want God’s grace for me. But God, make that person pay!”
It’s amazing how much grace we’re willing to receive and how little grace we are willing to extend.
4. I will remember God’s grace to me.
That will change you. Every time I remember all God has done for me, I know I have the capacity to do it for others. I’m telling you THIS is where transformation happens!
Until next time,
Keith
7708 Van Dyke Rd. Odessa 10am
www.tampajourney.com