Draw Near to God to Avoid Arguments
By Rick Warren
I have made an amazing discovery: The more time I spend alone with God, the better I get along with other people. I can count on it!
When the argument level rises in your marriage, it means somebody is not spending time with the Lord. It's that simple. You must grow closer to God if you want to avoid arguments.
Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" When you spend time with the Lord, you turn your thoughts to Him. Then, you get along better with others, because He keeps perfect peace in your heart, and you're not as irritable.
Have you noticed some people only draw close to God when they're in trouble? They only pray when they have a need.
You need to spend time with God. Bible study, Sunday morning, daily quiet time make time for these things.
Think you're too busy? Then maybe you are. Maybe you need to cut some things out of your schedule to make more time to spend with the Lord. Get up 15 minutes earlier each morning. Read and pray, and then notice the difference in your attitude and relationships the rest of the day.
The more you spend time with God, the more you will enjoy the rest of your time. It will be more productive and more beneficial. You'll get along better with others and have fewer arguments because you're drawing closer to God.
The conflict in your life is in inverse proportion to the time you're spending with God.
There is a great promise in James 4:8: "Come near to God and He will come near to you" (NIV). He doesn't back off. He draws close to you. When you move toward him, God moves toward you.
To avoid arguments, you have to give in to God, get wise to Satan, and draw close to God.
Talk About It
Would you characterize your prayer life as an ongoing conversation with God or as sporadic cries for help?
You will make time for the things that are important to you. What does your current schedule say to others is most important to you?
|