5 Ways to Control Our Response to Offense

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

An election year is always a prime soup of opinions. Everybody has one. Political arguments, polls, speeches, and spin can stir the pot with a lot of spice, some more fiery than others.

Heated conversation can be found in a host of places from restaurants, stores, and sadly even church.

 Even when we think we are not affected a mood change can be a key we are letting coals of anger or depression grow in our emotions.

5 Ways to Respond to Offensive Opinions

 

by Barbara Latta 

The world we live in surrounds us with negativity. More and more offensive opinions are blasted through the airwaves with something someone didn’t like, and we are all expected to accommodate the latest rant to prevent hurt feelings.

Arguments grow as more fuel is poured onto fiery conversations, and if we listen we can be burned. Even when we think we are not affected a mood change can be a key we are letting coals of anger or depression grow in our emotions.

 We have the power to flip the switches on electronic devices, but we can’t turn off opinions spouted in our presence whether in the workplace, marketplace, or school. Refusing to become offended is a choice we can make, but the power to make that choice requires discipline in the Word of God.

Here are five ways to respond to offensive opinions of others:

Killing the Giants of Impossibility

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

The earth around us is filled with depressing events.

I can find myself sometimes falling into a hole of impossibility. Just looking at the travel restrictions imposed by governments around the world started to play on my mind. How can I ever see my family again? We are spread out across the world.

I guess it’s human nature to start leaning to our own understanding without even knowing that’s what we do.

Until God brings us back to what He said. He used the story of David and Goliath to remind me that he kills the giants of impossibility. Goliaths don’t win.

4 Ways to Live in an Intimate Relationship with God

by Barbara Latta

4 ways to live in an intimate relationship with God

Love is the foundation upon which all biblical doctrines rest. It is the cement that holds all other revelations together. How can we trust our heavenly Father to save us, provide for us, or heal us if we question the depth of His affection?

We can’t walk in power without knowing the heart of the Father. Jesus came to restore fellowship between God and man. But sometimes life pours doubt on the fire of God’s Word and we may question His motives toward us. We don’t feel connected because we have allowed something to distract us from knowing we are His beloved.

Here are 4 ways we can live in an intimate relationship with God:

1. Make scripture personal. Familiarity with passages of scripture threaten the absorption of the deeper meaning. Banners display John 3:16 in various places, but that doesn’t mean everyone who reads the sign believes the words. But if we will take the time to contemplate the intent of the verses and insert our name in the message, the scripture becomes personal. And that is what our heavenly Father desires. The Bible is His love letter to us. Individual and personal.
2. Don’t compare the Lord’s character to human emotions. He tells us to worship in spirit and in truth, not with emotions (John 4:24). Our human minds cannot comprehend the heart of the Master of the universe. We compare His devotion for us to human feelings because our minds reason that our value is based on what we do or how good we can be. We learn this because human acceptance and rewards are based on performance. We must perform well in careers and education to be rewarded with raises, good evaluations, and excellent grades. But God’s delight in us is based on who He is, not what we do.
3. Accept what He says by faith. Faith comes by hearing His Word (Romans 10:17). We may not feel His love at times, but that doesn’t change the truth. We should believe He is passionate toward us because He said so. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19 NKJV). We can’t love God first because there isn’t anything in us to love Him with until we live and dwell in the life He shows us. Under grace we accept His sacrifice. He is the One who did the work.
4. Make Him our Priority. Instead of seeking to have our needs met, we simply need to seek the Father and the overflow of that relationship will result in taking care of everything in our lives—physical, emotional, relational, financial, and spiritual needs. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).Jesus reprimanded Martha because she was too concerned about earthly things. Her sister Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His words and their Teacher said, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

When we accept the mercy and grace that has been given to us, we change.

• God’s love can keep us out of sin. If we are grounded in Him, then when temptation comes or when painful events happen, we won’t react in a sinful way or retaliate in defense. We will know God’s power supersedes all. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9).
• God’s love frees us from the fear of man. The fear of people’s opinions will constrain us because we try to please them instead of the Lord (Galatians 1:10). The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trust in the Lord shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25).
• God’s love shows us how to relate to others. Until we know how much our Creator cherishes us, we can’t truly give to others in an unselfish way. Our relationship with Him will overflow to other relationships. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5).

The valentine of heaven wasn’t a card sent through an angelic mailbox. It was blood running down a wooden cross to soak into the cursed earth. One drop would have been enough, but he used it all to show us He goes over and beyond and does much more than we need.  He paid the highest cost, and we were given the freest gift.

Happy Valentine’s Day—from Jesus.

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