Today, we live in a world with many conflicts and read about them in the news daily. There are lots of political conflicts, both in our country and in and with other countries. World history is mainly made up of conflicts and wars between nations. These conflicts are inevitable, and much of the prophecy in the Bible is about these conflicts and their winners. The leaders and rulers in our world have methods and tools that they use to try and win their disputes. It may be tanks, bombs, economic sanctions, debating, protests, or tariffs. We each have various conflicts and disagreements with other people and have methods and ways of winning. The people might be our family, work associates, bosses, employees, neighbors, or friends. The average person uses methods much like the world: intimidation, threats, anger, ignoring, arguing, or debates. I sometimes find myself getting sucked into using those methods in my relationships with others. It is easy to do because my flesh is very much inclined that way; the devil and his demons are constantly tempting and urging us into conflicts, and that is the model we see every day all around us. I have made up a list of guidelines that I read when things get tense between me and others to remind myself of God’s way to be at peace with everyone around us. 

1. God is in control, and He causes or allows most of the events that cause tension in my life. I need to trust Him with my life constantly, pray, and ask Him to give me the wisdom to navigate life well, to pray and ask Him to work in and to change the people in my life and to change me. God works powerfully through much prayer. Tension and conflict tend to tie us all into knots. When I pray much, God gives me a peace that passes all comprehension. That is my test to see if I have prayed enough, inner peace. One of my personal rules is, “I can’t have peace with others until I have peace in myself,” work on first things first. 

I have four more guidelines, and I will write about them tomorrow.