Where's Your Consciousness?

Comment

Comment by Jeroen V. on February 12, 2016 at 2:53pm

Thank you Tammy for this great comment to my post.

May the Lord bless you!

In Christ

Jeroen

Comment by Tammy on February 12, 2016 at 2:49pm

As we’re all well aware, just because we’re in Christ doesn’t mean we won’t face difficult situations & agitating people. If anything, we face more. The great thing is we’re not going into it alone or without a defense. We also need to remember that we, too, can be quite difficult ourselves.

 

The normal reaction shifts towards how ‘they’ caused these difficulties. Surely it’s not our fault. Sometimes our pride overshadows the truth when we could be in the wrong. What we should do is step back & examine our own selves & remove that plank before we start trying to figure out what is going on with the other person.

 

We can’t control anyone else’s behaviors but we can control ours. Our attitude, behavior & words can turn a bad situation into an altogether different situation. We’re accountable for how we represent the Lord. If we’re around someone who agitates us to no end, it’s how we handle it that can make the big difference in their life as well as ours.

 

Words are powerful. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” NOT!!! We all know the many verses on the tongue & how it can destroy as well as lift up. Our words are one of the most powerful tools we have for good or evil.  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”  (Proverbs 18:21)

 

We need to put ourselves in the shoes of the one receiving our message so we get a better view of how they may be receiving it. Our words need to be full of grace, humility and love. I have a plaque that says “Lord, help my words to be tender & gracious today, for tomorrow I may have to eat them”. Our opinions don’t always have to be said nor do they always have to be heard. How arrogant are we to think that our opinion is so important and wise that it must be said? When we talk too much, we silence the words of another’s heart. “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking: but he that refrains his lips is wise. “ (Proverbs 10:19)

 

One thing we definitely shouldn’t do is give them a ‘piece of our mind’. Many of us don’t have a whole lot left to be giving it out so freely.

 

It’s also just as important that we LISTEN. He who has ears, let him hear. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger: For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

 

It’s the Father’s will for His children to live in total victory. That’s victory in all things including relationships that He’s put in front of us. While it is inevitable that challenging situations and people may come our way, God’s power and love is greater than them all. Knowing that we’re called to victory, we must walk by faith & not on the emotions of them getting on your last nerve.

 

If we are to be true followers of Christ, we must learn to love even the most difficult of people.