The Holy Spirit Will Teach You to be JOY-filled!

           Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Drinking it faithfully helps us to be able to respond positively in times of conflict.

            Some things we can control; and some things we can’t.  One thing for sure is that we have no control over someone else’s actions or reactions.  However, we do have a choice about our own. When conflict arises, there are right ways and wrong ways to react.  We’ve probably all experienced the wrong ways….so let’s focus on the healthy ways to respond. Charles Stanley gives some tips for you and me, personally….even if the other person in the conflict doesn’t want to participate!

·        First, we should refuse to respond in anger.  Stanley says “if you have a short fuse, get a longer one!”

·        Make no attempt to defend yourself immediately. Just be quiet…that gentle spirit goes a long way to diffuse many uncomfortable situations.  Luke 12:12 says, “The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” So until then….let’s stay quiet.

·        Ask the Holy Spirit to put a seal on your lips and to put a guard on your mouth…just as David prayed in Psalm 141:3.

·        Pray for discernment…about why the conflict happened in the first place. Then pray for His love, peace, patience, kindness, mercy and self-control…and JOY in the midst of the conflict!

 

Though we cannot always avoid conflict, we can choose to respond in a Godly manner. Share the JOY of the Lord everywhere you go…even when conflict rears its ugly head!