Heart Attitudes – Part 7
Heart Attitude #6 encourages humility in all of our relationships.
6. Receive and give biblical correction (Heb 3:13; Prov 10:17).
It’s easy to dish it out but what about when someone points out something in us that needs to be changed? Do we get defensive? So we lash out? Do we run? Do we stuff how we feel and pretend to listen? Or, can we step back and process what’s being said and own what we may need to be changed?
This doesn’t mean that you let people tread all over you. It means you should stop and listen if someone comes to you in a spirit of love to share something that may need changing in your life.
Heart Attitudes – Part 6
Heart Attitude #6 is all about cultivating a servant’s heart – no matter what.
5. Put the success of others above my own (Phil 2:2-3; John 15:12-13).
Jesus said that he came to serve. This was his own heart attitude that really paved the way for how he connected with others, did ministry, led people and eventually sacrificed his life for us.
Imagine what would happen if we truly lived this out with each other – every day?
Heart Attitudes – Part 5
Heart Attitude #4 is preventative medicine for gossip, back-biting – and even slandering someone.
4. Assume the best of others until proven otherwise (Phil 4:8; I Cor 13:5-7).
We’ve all involved done what I call third party maneuvering. That’s where we bend the ear of someone who has nothing to do with the conflict that we’re facing. We look for affirmation from a third party that we’re right and the other person is wrong. We put them down in all kinds of ways. Then, what happens? The person not involved in the conflict suddenly finds themselves in the middle of it. They even develop a poor opinion of the other person based on what they’re hearing. Many times it may not even be true.
The healthy to do when someone comes to us to put another person down or complain about them is to discern whether or not he or she has genuinely tried to work this out with those who are directly involved. Maybe a comment back to the person life – “This doesn’t sound like him … have you tried to talk with him and share your feelings?” Give people the benefit of the doubt and encourage the two parties to clear things up between in a spirit of openness, love and forgiveness.
If the two parties involved have tried this and it hasn’t worked, only then would a mediator or someone else get involved in helping to bring about reconciliation.
God’s heart is that we stop the gossip and seek reconciliation. There’s something about the inner peace that we experience when we listen, forgive and reconcile – whenever possible.
Heart Attitudes – Part 4
Heart Attitude #3 can be one of the hardest things to do. But it’s an essential attitude.
3. Clear up relationships with others (Matt 5:23-24).
In Colossians 3:12-14, the Apostle Paul says, Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Paul says “clothe yourselves”, “bear with each other”, “forgive …” and “put on love.” These are all commands. God wants us to clear up relationships – to deal with anything that may hinder our relationship with each other.
Why does God give us commands? He has to since the things that he’s asking us to do are not natural for us. With his help and by relying on his strength working in our lives, we can clothe, bear, forgive and put on.
Heart Attitudes – Part 3
Heart Attitudes are meant to remind us of what matters most when it comes to being in relationship with each other.
2. Live a godly and honest life before others (Eph 4:25).
Heart Attitude #2 encourages us to align our lives with God and his ways as we interact with each other. When conflicts come, we need to balance being honest and real with also being compassionate and caring too. It’s hard to find that balance – especially when people hurt each other. But, running, isolating and being conflict averse doesn’t help resolve anything. Dealing with with conflict like that often leads to anger and bitterness which – if left unchecked – can negatively impact our lives.
