In 2 Timothy 1:7 I read, “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (NLT)
God wants me to live at peace with everyone. Why? Because unresolved conflict has three devastating effects in life.
First, it blocks my fellowship with God. When I’m out of harmony with others, I can’t be in harmony with God. When I’m distracted by conflict with others, I can’t have a clear connection with God. The Bible says, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar” (1 John 4:20 NLT).
Second, unresolved conflict hinders my prayers. Over and over again the Bible says that when a life is characterized by conflict, sin, and disharmony, prayers are blocked. “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).
Third, unresolved conflict hinders my happiness. I can’t be happy and in conflict at the same time. When conflict comes in through the front door, happiness goes out the back door.
Once conflict has arrived, it won’t go away on its own. I can’t make it disappear by ignoring, denying, or pushing conflict under the rug.
The expression, “Time heals everything”, is simply not true. Time heals nothing! If time healed everything, I would never need to see the doctor. When I’ve got an open wound and I don’t deal with it, it festers. Conflict is the same way. Anger turns to resentment, and resentment turns to bitterness.
So, to get rid of conflict, I need to intentionally deal with it. Don’t wait for the other person to come. Go to the person I’m in conflict with. Take the initiative and be the peacemaker.
Only courageous people resolve conflict. Maybe the most courageous thing I can do is to face an issue that I’ve been ignoring for a long time, whether it’s in marriage, with kids, with employees or a leader, or whoever.
Where canI find the courage to face and resolve conflict? I get it from God.
The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7, “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (NLT). I need to let God’s Spirit fill my life, and I’ll find myself filled with power, love, and self-discipline. God’s love will overcome fear and give me the courage to resolve conflict and bring healing to relationships.
In summary, God did not give me a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. God wants me to live at peace with everyone, because unresolved conflict has three devastating effects in life. First, it blocks my fellowship with God. When I’m out of harmony with others, I can’t be in harmony with God. When I’m distracted by conflict with others, I can’t have a clear connection with God. Second, unresolved conflict hinders my prayers. When a life is characterized by conflict, sin, and disharmony, prayers are blocked. Third, unresolved conflict hinders my happiness. I can’t be happy and in conflict at the same time. Once conflict has arrived, it won’t go away on its own. I can’t make it disappear by ignoring, denying, or pushing conflict under the rug. The expression, “Time heals everything”, is simply not true. Time heals nothing! Over time anger turns to resentment, and resentment turns to bitterness.To get rid of conflict, I need to intentionally deal with it. Don’t wait for the other person. Go to the person I’m in conflict with. Take the initiative and be the peacemaker. Only courageous people resolve conflict. Where can I find the courage to face and resolve conflict? I get it from God. I need to let God’s Spirit fill my life, God’s love will overcome fear and give me the courage to resolve conflict and bring healing to relationships.
The three characteristics of an effective life are: power, love, and self-discipline. These are available to me because the Holy Spirit lives in me. I can follow his lead each day so that my life will more fully exhibit these characteristics.
Father, I need you. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can believe in, have faith and can trust you in everything, including being the authority for my life, my self-worth and my future. You have my best interests in mind. Help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. I want to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. Father, I ask for your help to be effective in dealing with conflicts. I also ask you for wisdom and guidance in this for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my preparation for a future job role and for leading a small group. I ask and pray these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
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