TODAY'S DEVOTION:    july 01, 2020

ARE YOU DRIVING PEOPLE TO CONFLICT?

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

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James 5:16 (KJV)

​Reflection:

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How have you been critical recently?

What can you do to make it right?

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When coaching clients, I teach them that there are 4 general personality types:

• drivers,

• expressives,

• amiables,

• and analytics.

One of the characteristics of a driver is they are to the point, and this abruptness can lead to conflict.

Conflict can be a good thing, but it can also be destructive. We experience conflict when we focus on the problems or flaws of others while ignoring our own. That’s criticism.

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We experience criticism in all relationships, even within the body of Christ. When this criticism creates conflict, James has a way to restore the relationship.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16).

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This passage is about Christians who have fallen into sin and are suffering. We don’t know for sure what sins they were struggling with regardless when we sin, we should confess and pray.

So when we tear others down, when we criticize, we need to go and confess or apologize.

No one is perfect.

God knows that.

His grace is sufficient.

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So, confess when we’ve done wrong. Forgive when we’ve been wronged, because we’ve been forgiven much.

Jesus warned in Matthew 6:15

“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” And pray for each other and for yourself.

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Prayer: 

Father, thank You for Your mercy and grace. Help me to see others as You see me. Help me to show the same mercy and grace to others as You do to me. I surrender all my prejudices into Your hands. I pray to You, in Jesus Name, Amen.