As we’re listening to someone, we often try to fit things into stories we’ve heard before. Sometimes, we turn to stories that accurately reflect reality and they help us to quickly assess the situation. Other times, we turn to stories that hijack the conversation and prevent us from finding a healthy resolution. Consider some of the stories that most commonly sabotage the talks that we have.
When we find ourselves in conversations about issues that are important to us, it’s easy to lose out to our worst tendencies. Our words can degrade into sarcasm and discussions can end with door slamming. Consider some of the things that can make conversations go sideways and what to do instead.
When a conversation feels awkward, my instinct is to clam up and withdraw. Other people push forward and say things they regret. These principles help both types have more productive conversations about the things that matter.
Church membership isn’t a marriage vow. But there are similar dynamics at play. We make basic commitments to one another because we believe they help preserve our faith. And the commitments we make help to clarify how we’re to be family to one another.
Awe can lower our stress and give a greater sense of peace and rest. But it’s easy to miss the awe. Christians can read their Bibles, pray, serve, and go to church either intentionally pursuing awe or acting largely oblivious to it. Here are some simple ways to cultivate awe in your relationship with God.
Stress affects all of us in different ways and it comes from different directions. But when stress is constant and not released, researchers say that it results in anxiety, depression, digestive problems, headaches, muscle tension, and heart disease. Obviously, monitoring stress and finding relief from it is something that needs to be on our radar. What’s fascinating to me is that recent research points in the same direction that the Bible has prescribed for thousands of years.
There’s a belief that New Testament prophecy may contain a kernel of truth even if there’s a husk of error. Something can get lost in the translation. There’s also an appeal to what I’ll call humble prophecy. Instead of saying, “Thus says the Lord,” people are encouraged to say things like “I feel God wants me to tell you this.” All of this seems well-intentioned. But is it biblical?
The message seems to be that adding God’s authority to your own words is so dangerous to the people of God that the prophet had to be permanently silenced. If you were going to claim to speak for God, the words that came out of your mouth had to be as true and reliable as God Himself.
Many people feel a sense of envy when they hear someone talk of their calling. The process can feel mysterious, and we can feel as if we’ve missed out. The Bible provides clear principles that can demystify God’s plan for our lives.
What starts with a terrible boss can turn into a terrible performance review. Their problem can quickly spiral into your problem. And nobody wants to derail their career because they couldn’t find a way to deal with a difficult manager. Consider the alternatives that the Bible provides.
