Communication. This has been my unintentional theme word for the week.
It all started Saturday. I engaged in some very difficult conversation with someone very close to me. I initially reached out to this person via text and shared some thoughts. She came to see me and reminded me that encountering issues head on, face to face, is often the best route. Our meeting picked at old wounds and scratched the surface of things neither of us may have even realized were issues. There were points we disagreed on and instances where one and/or both of us weren’t able to effectively communicate and/or receive what the other was saying. However, when it was all said and done we were able to hug each other and confirm the love we have for one another. There may always be issues that come between us and Satan will likely continue to try use the trap of convincing us our battle is flesh against flesh, but deep down we both realize all the things we have faced together and the fact that this type of conflict is not God’s desire.
That night, like the night before, I had trouble sleeping. I found myself looking to God’s word for comfort. I went straight to Ephesians 6 because I knew I needed the reminder.
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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
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Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
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For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
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Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
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Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
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and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
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In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
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Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
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And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
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Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel
As I studied the scripture and look at all my scribbles and notes I noticed 3 simple words I had written at some other point in time. “Pray to communicate.”
So.....I asked God - what is it I should communicate. I mean, I know communication is best way to any resolution.....but hey, I feel like I’m a decent communicator.....but still those words glared back at me. “Pray to communicate.”
What exactly did God want me to communicate?
I haphazardly turned to 2nd Corinthians 10:1-2
Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away.
It was obvious for me to gather that it may have been pointing out that I, like Paul, am much more bold in writing than speaking. While I have no argument against that, I still felt that wasn’t all that God needed me to gather. After reading and reading those 2 verses for some time I finally moved to verses 3-5. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.(4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
So the next morning I reached out to her and others that I felt like I had failed in with communication. I expressed sorrow for my part in causing hurt feelings and also prayed over the hurt of those I love and my own hurt.
It’s much easier to love someone when you realize it’s not the actual person you’re fighting but the spiritual forces of evil.
The following day Stevie and I visited a different church and y’all, I can’t make this stuff up- the opening sentiment for the service? “Our communication.” The scripture focused on Mark 12:13-17. It’s the account of how Jesus addresses a question about taxes to Caesar in which the Pharisees attempt to catch Jesus being a hypocrite. The bulk of the sermon included the fact that we, as Christians, are called to be the salt and the light. We are called to be “different than the world” in communicating- and in every other aspect of life.
The pastor further referenced Ecclesiastes 5:2
“Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.”
Oh how I need to work on this at times.
Y’all that message was for ME!
Every scripture reference I went home and studied-
Galatians 4:6, James 1:9, Proverbs 25:11, Galatians 2:11-13, Ephesians 4:25
I fail every day at communication. Even when I “think” I’m doing something to communicate effectively. I tend to over communicate. (Just look at the length of this post already). My sincere hope is to effectively communicate my thoughts and feelings while understanding the other persons- all while remembering that God should be at the center of it all.
Stevie recently told me that he was worried I was opening myself up to public ridicule and criticism with some of the things I post....well if you go back through anything I’ve ever posted you’ll see that I’ve easily made myself a target at times. The only thing I can tell him is that I am human therefore I know I have (and will) fail. I also know I am God’s child and as long as I seek to live by and understand His ways I am ultimately protected by God through Eternal life.
Have I ever failed? You betcha! Every. Single. Day. I know that sometimes my willingness to communicate and my evidence of over communication opens me up to personal attack. When and if that time comes I pray that I still rely on God’s comfort, hope, and truth to acknowledge my shortcomings and still keep going.
In any case, I know that God’s lesson for me this week....and perhaps in time to come is “pray to communicate” so that is what I’ll continue to seek to do.
