Dancing to the right music – Day 7

Fear of conflict

Luke 17:3 ESV “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,” & Matthew 5:9 ESV “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Conflict needs to be addressed in a Godly way – not a people-pleasing way! We are to be peacemakers, not peacekeepers. Fearing conflict drives us to please and give in just to keep the peace. Sadly, we experience no peace this way and it gives way to bitterness and unforgiveness.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”

Lack of authority is the culprit behind this fear. If we can walk in the authority and love God gave us, we will rebuke, forgive, and move on as He intended. Instead of staying stuck in this pool of poison. We need to learn how to address conflict in God’s way and the only way we can do this is by knowing our value and authority in Him. When we look at Jesus once again, He was faced with many conflicting situations, but He always responded in wisdom, words spoken from God only.

“We must do business in great waters; we must be really on the deck in a storm if we would see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep. We must have stood side by side with King David; we must have gone down into the pit to slay the lion or have lifted the spear against the eight hundred if we would know the saving strength of God’s right hand. Conflicts bring experience, and experience brings that growth in grace which is not to be attained by any other means.” Charles Spurgeon

It is time for the music to stop. Time to start listening to the voice of God. God needs to be glorified, even in the way we handle conflict.

How do you handle conflict? How does it make you feel when you keep quiet just to keep the peace? Take inventory today and lay it down before God and ask Holy Spirit to teach you how to handle conflict and respond in love not pleasing,

Prayer: Heavenly Father we misinterpret peace-making for peacekeeping. Please help us to face this fear today and show us how to handle conflict in a Godly way. Holy Spirit please help us to gain back our authority in Jesus to walk in His footsteps and follow His example. Amen

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