How to Respond
Luke
12:11-12
11 And
when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities,
do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,
12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.?
When
conflict occurs, the natural reaction is to blame someone else and defend
yourself. But believers must respond differently. Once, I was publicly
chastised for a wrong I had not committed. Thankfully, the Lord enabled me to
remain calm rather than react angrily. Praying first is always the best
response in a crisis. When we do, God supernaturally provides that which we
can't muster up ourselves.
We
don't have to react to criticism with anger and self-protection the way the
world does. Instead, we are called to represent Christ in every situation by
depending on Him. In responding as He directs, we bring Him glory and cause
unbelievers to want to know the source of our strength.