“In times such as these, we need to guard our national civility. It begins with us seeking the wisdom to respond to the many challenges we are facing in our nation that cause disunity.” KimberlyMac
Civility Lesson One: Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, you really don’t know what you think you know. When God is the source of your wisdom, trust this truth and its Source, you don’t need to prove yourself right or prove the other person wrong through strife agitated conversation. Truth doesn’t need you to make a way for it, truth is its own way-maker, it never returns void. When you walk away, the standard of truth still stands and it is so bright, no false narrative can stand up next to it.
Civility Lesson Two: Altercations about who is right and who is wrong, just dead end and devalue our civility. Someone else’s opinion doesn’t change truth. If they don’t believe in the truth you know, their unbelief doesn’t change truth. Truth is not validated by human approval, or disapproval. Truth stands the tests and trials of time. Stay away from back-biting, this is the way strife works, the back and forth arguing between people; bow out of these kinds of situations. Truth has the approval of God, it does not need the approval of men. We don’t need to seek approval, we need to keep our feet planted firmly in our identity in Christ, He is the prover, we are not.
Civility Lesson Three: Raise up a standard of right as you speak your truth with civility, and if what you have spoken the truth in love and it is not received amicably, and the conversation turns towards in the direction of strife, getting heated emotionally, humbly agree to disagree. The Standard of Truth will still stand, it is not weakened by you not being able to get it approved by someone else. Speak your truth in love, leave it on the table and walk away peacefully from agitators and you will have added value to civility instead of devaluing it. Love is valuable, strife devalues it. It is more important that we leave a divine appointment with love, not a win for truth. Truth already won on the cross of Jesus and out of that truth, love remains. Love should remain with every disagreement we have, love should remain.
“High spirits criticize and object, but lowly minds glean and receive benefit. A humble heart is a great help towards profitably hearing the gospel. The engrafted soul-saving word is not received except with meekness. A stiff back makes a bad gleaner; down, master pride, thou art a vile robber, not to be endured for a moment.” Oswald Chambers
Don’t let anyone fool you by using senseless arguments. These arguments may sound wise, but they are only human teachings. They come from the powers of this world and not from Christ. CEV Colossians 2:8
Civility Lesson Four: Where there is no common-sense present in a conversation, then there is just foolish talk. Don’t step into this kind of situation where the substance of a conversation at its core is assumption, speculation, and false narrative. This is a false front and you will end up tumbling down the ravine of disrespect, from which the climb up is exhausting. People filled with deception, don’t want to hear your truth, they just want to pick a fight, so step out on the strong footing of God’s love and walk away from the foolishness that we can change someone. We can’t. Only God can change a heart. Fools create conflict for conflict sake, not to know truth. This is called fake outrage. These kinds of conversations will definitely disrupt and devalue our national civility. When the start of the conversation is void of truth, you are on the shaky ground of strife and will take a tumble, with civility going down with you. Use your common sense, arguing with a fool doesn’t make your right, it makes you a fool just like them. When the common denominator of a conversation is foolishness, then civility takes a beating and love does not prevail.
Wisdom, Our Hiding Place: My child, never drift off course from these two goals for your life: to walk in wisdom and to discover discernment. Don’t ever forget how they empower you. For they strengthen you inside and out and inspire you to do what’s right; you will be energized and refreshed by the healing they bring. Proverbs 3 The Passion Translation
Civility Lesson Five: Walking in God’s wisdom, we will discover discernment, and it will empower us, strengthening us from the inside-out. Wisdom refreshes, it energizes us. Standing on the side of God’s Truth, you are secure because your human condition is propped up by: God The Proof; Jesus The Proven; and The Holy Spirit The Prover. Truth is supported wholly-holy by God’s Holy Spirit, He is the Prover, we are not. We have to “flesh out” what we “think we know” and turn to God, fully face God, being soul saturated by His love, mercy and wisdom. Walk away from the anger, bitterness and devaluing of other people and walk to God, embrace God’s love.
They give you living hope to guide you, and not one of life’s tests will cause you to stumble. You will sleep like a baby, safe and sound— your rest will be sweet and secure. You will not be subject to terror, for it will not terrify you. Nor will the disrespectful be able to push you aside, because God is your confidence in times of crisis, keeping your heart at rest in every situation.
Civility Lesson Six: Knowing the wisdom of God assures we do not stumble when sudden strife pops up unexpectedly in our life path. We will not lose sleep over the unanswered questions we and others have, we can rest in the wisdom God has already given us and patiently endure, waiting for the revelation that leads our next steps. We don’t need to have the final say when we are trusting God, we need to love. Walking in the wisdom of God, disrespect can’t bully us, can’t push us aside, and can’t derail our confidence in God’s love, way and truth, because we know God has the final say. Walking in this wisdom, we are assured we will be adding value to our national civility. Without civility our nation will divide and divided we will fall, so this is why we make civility a very important thing to protect and add value to. We pray for our speaking of truth to be accompanied by the love of God. Let God’s love remain, as we raise up a standard of His Truth in that way only He can lead us to be so. Truth and Love together, always adds value to our national civility. I pray it is so in us.
Welcome To The Bridegroom’s Café. I hope you enjoyed your time at the Smorgasbord Table. This table is unique because you never know what will be on the menu. It is always an adventure with Jesus. Speaking of God Adventures, I highly encourage you to purchase my book: The Bridegroom’s Voice and take a Journey with Jesus that will change up your relationship with Him in a great way. God bless ya, MUCH, KimberlyMac
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