conflict | considering the word

I love the Lord’s timely reminders. Were your feelings hurt this week like mine? Have you been in conflict with someone and you haven’t yet shaken it off? Is there a moment of pain you continue to pray about?

It’s time to forgive and move on.

Here’s the deal. The person who hurt you is a human, just like you. They are affected by stressors, spiritual powers, and the same fluctuating & selfish traits of humanity as us. Sometimes others go into protection mode, too. And sometimes others don’t always act like “perfect Christians” either.

With that in mind, we need to pray for that other person or people. I said it. And you can do it. Also, I do not mean praying for their demise. I mean pray for them as you would pray for yourself. Pray for them as though they are one of God’s children, because they are.

If you’re thinking I’m crazy, I will remind you that this is scriptural. Jesus told us to pray for those who mistreat us and to love our enemies. I don’t typically think of anyone as my enemy, but if there is something keeping us from wanting to pray for someone, then perhaps that qualifies.

Praying for someone who has hurt us is a beautiful sacrifice of love. It also allows us to see them the way God does, and to remember that they need a bit of grace, as well. Suddenly, forgiveness becomes possible, and we are free from that burden we’ve been carrying around. We will see, once again, how the truth in God’s Word will set us free!

Note: Forgiveness is about us being obedient to the Word. Some relationships can then be reconciled, in a beautiful, and sometimes miraculous way. Others, especially if it’s a dangerous situation, may not need to be, and that’s ok.

Let God set you free today! Forgive,

jamie

Pr. 15:18: “A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention.”

I know someone just came to your mind when you read that. We find it all too easy to identify those around us who are wrathful and stir up strife. Maybe you are that person.

Ok, let’s get real personal for a minute. How are you about allaying contention? Allaying contention means that you diminish, put to rest, relieve, or alleviate disagreements and conflicts. So, do you try to put conflicts to rest or are you actually contributing to the stirring up of the strife? Really think about it.

And perhaps you aren’t actively contributing to the point that others realize it, but are you stirring up the strife within yourself? Are you dwelling on it? Do you continue to think about it every time that person comes around or their name is mentioned?

One more question: if someone who has hurt you needs prayer will you pray for them?

I’m going to continue this in part two and three, and four but for today, just ask yourself those questions and think on it. Perhaps you’re not allaying contention the way you thought you were. Perhaps you’re stirring up strife, after all. I’m not sure. That’s for you to figure out.

Until tomorrow…

jamie

Love Your Enemies, part 2

Love Your Enemies, part 3

Love Your Enemies, part 4