Freely Speaking Audio Devotion
Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts
and trust God for transformation.
Today’s devotion was written by Andi Benson. Our scripture reading is from Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV.
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV).
God made us to be relational. Relationships are a gift from the Lord. They can bring joy and fulfillment, but unfortunately, they can sometimes bring strife. Difficult relationships can occur in all areas of our lives: work, church, friends, and family. Jesus instructs us in the book of Matthew that the second greatest commandment is to love others as you love yourself, even those that may be challenging to love.
Growing up in a small town, I have many friends and connections. Most of those relationships are easy and enjoyable, without discord or drama. I feel I am genuinely kind and pursue peace with everyone in my life. Yet, despite my good intentions and best efforts, I have had several difficult relationships that weighed heavy on my heart.
My way of dealing with conflict is not always productive. I will worry or fret until it consumes my thought process, worsening the situation as my thoughts spiral into insecurities, anger, and untruth.
At other times, I will try to control it and take matters into my own hands. I believe that I am the one who can fix the issue—many times making it worse than it was to begin with. Neither of these approaches is a productive or godly way to resolution.
We can discover a better way to find peace in the middle of strife in Ephesians 4. To live a life worthy of the calling God has placed on our lives, we must be humble, gentle, and patient. We should meet pridefulness with humbleness. We should return harsh words with a gentle reply. We should be empathetic to others and bear the burdens they carry. In this way, we can better understand the hearts of those with whom we have difficulty. Lastly, we should wait patiently for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and that of our enemies.
How can you be humble, patient, and kind in your more troublesome relationships? Pray and ask God to show you how to act in this higher calling and receive His blessing in return.
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