STOP TRYING TO WIN ARGUEMENTS

 

by Jon Walker

"I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won't be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose." – 1 Corinthians 1:10 (Living Bible)

Stop trying to win arguments.

Instead, make it your goal to love those who disagree with you. Go for the love, not the win. Jesus tells us love will always win; he guaranteed that when he walked out of the tomb.

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers, use these biblical guidelines for getting along:

Let mercy guide your response (Proverbs 3:3-6). In a conflict, most of us say we only want what's fair, but God's approach isn't about being fair. It's about grace and mercy (Romans 5:8).

Let God determine the truth (2 Corinthians 13:8). The truth is not determined by your thoughts or feelings (1 John 4:1) or the opinions of others. Truth is what God says it is; he is the sole authority for interpreting any situation (2 Corinthians 10:5).

The Bible says we shouldn't rely on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5), that what appears to be right to us may very well be wrong (Proverbs 14:12).

Look for God's presence (Matthew 28:20). Satan wants us to believe we're in the battle alone. Follow the example of the young shepherd boy, David, who believed God was in the fight and that the battle belonged to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47).

Look for the conflict's true source (Ephesians 6:12). According to God's Word, we're really not fighting other people; our real enemy is Satan and his "unseen spiritual forces of wickedness."

Lay down human weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). When we try to meet our own needs, working independently of God, we tend to use what the Apostle Paul called weapons of the flesh. These include: manipulation, gossip, slander, ridicule, threats, blame, nagging, deception, and silence. When we use them, we end up in an "evil for evil" cycle, and that's like trying to fight a skunk with "stink" – everybody loses!

Learn to use spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4). The Bible tells us that prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon. After we put on the whole armor of God, we're to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 6:18 NIV).

As seen at http://www.purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/index.html?contentid=11052

THE MEN’S THESAURUS

When a man says: "IT'S A GUY THING"
He means: "There is no rational thought pattern connected with this, and you have no chance at all of making it logical"

When a man says "UH HUH, SURE HONEY,” or “YES, DEAR"
He means: Absolutely nothing – It’s a conditioned response.

When a man says ’’IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN"
He means: "I have no idea how it works"

When a man says "TAKE A BREAK, HONEY. YOU ARE WORKING TOO HARD’’
He means: "I can’t hear the game over the vacuum cleaner"

When a man says ’THAT’S INTERESTING DEAR.’
He means: "I have no idea what you just said"

When a man says "YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS."
He means: " I can remember theme songs, scores and stats of multiple teams in professional sports – but I forgot your birthday"

When a man says ’OH, DON’T FUSS, I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT’S NO BIG DEAL"
He means: "I have actually severed a limb, but I will bleed to death before I admit I’m hurt"

When a man says ’I CAN’T FIND IT.’’
He means: "It didn’t fall into my outstretched hand, so I have no idea"

When a man says “I HEARD YOU.”
He means: "I haven’t the foggiest clue what you just said and I am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you’ll not notice”

When a man says "YOU LOOK TERRIFIC!"
He means: "Oh please don’t try on one more outfit, I’m starving."

When a man says "I’M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE.’’
He means: "No one will ever see us alive again."

7 THINGS YOU'LL NEVER HEAR YOUR DAD SAY

7. I notice all your friends have a hostile attitude–I like that!

6. Well now that you’re 13, Princess, I want you to start dating older guys.

5. No son of mine is going to live under this roof without an earring!

4. Why do you want to get a job? I’ve got plenty of money for you to spend!

3. Your mother and I are going away for the weekend–you might want to consider throwing a party.

2. Here’s my credit card and the keys to my car–now, GO CRAZY!

1. Well, looks like I’m lost–I guess I’ll have to stop and ask for directions!

TRAPS TO AVOID

There are traps the enemy likes to set. 

Here are a few to avoid in your life: 

1. Doubt
The most used vice by the enemy is doubt because it comes in all shapes and sizes. We doubt ourselves, our friends, family, our future and God. Don’t let doubt creep in you life. 

2. Discouragement
There are people that God has put in your life to encourage you. The hardest thing in the world to do is encourage someone that doesn’t want to be encouraged. Be one that accepts encouragement. 

3. Diversion
Often, life’s problems tend to get more attention than God’s promises. Don’t let diversion be used on you. Focus on the promises that God has for you. 

4. Defeat
One way that people end up living in defeat is comparing your life to others. “Compare and compete and you’ll live in defeat.” 

5. Delay
Don't put off to tomorrow what you can do today. There may be something in your life that you have been wanting to do or waiting to do. Don’t delay. If the enemy can have you delay you can decay. There is no time like today!