Devotion: Proverbs 15:18

Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

As we approach the end of the month it is my prayer that you have developed some patience of your own over our time together. Today is another opportunity to evaluate your patience levels and apply them in possibly trying situations.

Let’s do a little thinking for a minute. Think of at least one person that you know, either now or from your past, who you would say is hot-tempered. I am sure all of us can think of multiple people. Some of us might even BE that hot-tempered person (though I admit I am nowhere near hot-tempered).

Now think about why you identified that person or people as being hot-tempered. Was it because they were quick to stir up trouble or stir up conflict? I know the people that came to mind for me definitely qualify as stirring up trouble or getting into fights. Which proves this psalm to be correct. A hot-tempered person most definitely stirs up conflict.

And when you have a hot-tempered person, you need someone with great patience to keep things calm and to put an end to the quarrel. I tend to be the person with the patience to bring about resolution and calm things down when they get heated. (Which is funny since I said a few days back I often lack patience.) A patient, calm person needs to have a good sense of what is needed to smooth things out and fix the quarrel. If you recall, we also spoke of the patient person having a good deal of spiritual maturity, which will definitely be needed to restore calm to the situation.

We could all use a bit of practice with conflict resolution, I am sure. And I am fairly certain you have people around you who allow you to have that opportunity. The question is, do you take it or stay out of things? Be like the patient person in this psalm and step into the quarrel with the patience to restore peace once again.

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for opportunities to end quarrels and conflicts. Allow me to have the patience needed to restore peace if I find myself witness to one. Amen

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