I have the privilege of spending 30 minutes three
times a week with a group of women... So I choose to
spend 90 minutes out of my week with them,
why is that a privilege?? Because these
women and I have one common denominator....we exercise (no, this
was not a New Year's resolution...we began our 'habit' at the
beginning of November :) )! We don't discuss our children,
our husbands, our finances, our doctrinal views...you get the picture.
Now, please do not hear that these topics are not
important or that they are not worthy of being discussed.
But!, please hear me say that these topics do not 'cloud'
the common denominator of our goal to be healthier
and stronger...the encouragement regarding
these topics are just a bonus.
I will also not say that these topics don't come up....
If you know me at
all (a little or a lot), I am an open book...You don't have to
wonder what is going on in my life.... :)
Well because we are women--we do, on occasion,
talk, and this morning did not disappoint...
One of the ladies and I were discussing a scenario where a
tough conversation had to happen. A tough conversation that,
out of love, HAD TO HAPPEN for the recipient's eternal
well-being. As she was talking, I was reflecting
on a conversation that I had with a friend
this week that was, needless to say, a little challenging.
The questions that I asked from myself, about my
convo with my friend, are the same questions
that my friend was 'mulling' over:
How does scripture advise us to handle tough conversations that HAVE to happen??
How does Christ exemplify handling tough conversation that HAVE to happen??
How does Christ exemplify humility in tough situations?
How does Christ encourage reconciliation?
Why do we extend forgiveness?
How do we extend forgiveness regardless where the fault falls??
How do you handle someone who is lacking humility, the want to reconcile, the unwillingness to extend/offer forgiveness?
These conversations made me think mostly about how
scripture outlines handling these questions...
And, my initial thought was "what provokes me to
NOT consult scripture or pray about first?".
The answer EVERY TIME is pride!!
How many times in scripture do
people attempt to do things without the Lord's
prompting...
My friend gave a good example:
The first time Moses hit the rock it turned into water.
The second time Moses struck the rock - nothing.
Why did the 'formula' work the first time but not the second??
Moses was following the leading of Christ's
'direction' the first time... Moses was NOT following
Christ's direction the second, and nothing happened.
When we try to 'do' tough situations, have tough conversations,
raise our children, appeal to our husbands
without seeking God for His direction thru
scripture, prayer, and waiting on God's timing...
we are seeking our own glory
(John 7:18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain
personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one
who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him).
But...when we do things
according to the Lord's prompting
iron is allowed to sharpen iron.
(Pro 27:17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another);
otherwise, we are just cutting.
Please consider if you are sharpening or cutting....
