Freedom
Why do so many Christ followers have a difficult time relating to each other? I think it has to do with having more trust in ourselves than we do the Spirit of God. People are afraid to be honest with each other because they have no idea how the other person will react to the situation. But I have found in my own experience that when I trust the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding God works best. When I experience conflict with someone else and I meet with them and honestly express my feelings amazing things take place. This is always a frightening experience because I have no idea how the other person will react. It is essential to exhibit faith at this juncture rather than retreating. If I choose to retreat rather than being authentic I bring bondage into the Kingdom. I refuse to live like a slave when the Master has set me free. Don’t allow your fear to produce bondage in the Kingdom of Christ. Love casts out fear so be free, be a Christ follower. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is FREEDOM!
(I write more about this topic in chapter 3 and 4 of Shelter)
1 John 4:18 (NIV)
18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NIV)
16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
My husband does this well. In our marriage, as a parent, in the church, with his family and friends, in his business, with the waitress when his steak is wrong, with telemarketers, with umpires, etc….I like it! It was one of the first things I loved about him and it’s hot! I love that I know where I stand with him. He often gets it right and it hardly ever back fires. It’s not a far stretch for him. I tend to close up. If I cannot relate well with someone, I avoid communicating with them. I guess I think it is better to say nothing than to engage in miscommunication. I can have a difficult conversation with someone as a last resort but I need to bury those conversations in prayer and give them tons of forethought.If I feel passionate about something, I can stand in front of a large crowd and be authentic (teach, testify in court, etc..)I feel more comfortable doing that than having a difficult conversation one on one.
Smokin! And I am encouraged to believe God wasnt involved in the founding of this great country! Hog wash! God wasnt just involved the Lord was in Charge!