Wednesday, January 9, 2013

“Conflict”


Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
Ephesians 4:26


As a young adult there was nothing I disliked more than conflict. Whatever it took to avoid the situation, I went that route. Whether it was “smile and stuff it” or just navigate around it, avoiding conflict was the objective.

Time and life’s circumstances have taught me that it’s much healthier to approach conflict with grace and humility. Think about your most recent conflict. Was it with a co-worker, spouse, friend, or maybe even the cashier at the grocery store? As you approached the situation were you trying to prove something or improve something? Was the outcome an escalation of events or a restoration of a relationship?

Next time conflict arises, pause and ask God for guidance. Seek to understand the situation and grow from it. Take the high road. It’s not easy and sometimes it makes you feel worse before you feel better. God will honor your seeking to understand both sides.

Application
Seek to understand where the other person is coming from.

Prayer
Help me to realize that with each conflict I make a choice. Help me choose to improve, rather than prove.

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