When Christ is exposing a need in our hearts it can be painful. We will not always want to see it either. The need isn’t always good, or Godly. Sometimes we try to outrun it and even rationalize it.

Christ will keep up the school lesson until we surrender to His teaching. He is relentless when it comes to our freedom. I don’t know about you but I’m tired of having to re-learn the same ole’ lessons. I’d like to get some things straight the first time.

This is what growing in Christ is all about. My knowledge and preaching of the Word of God must match at some point how I handle life situations and other’s hearts.

A few things I’ve learned the hard way.

1. Silence can ruin relationships.
2. Confrontation is healthy & necessary when you love others well-and biblically. We must talk things out.
3. Reconciliation takes a lot of work from all parties or it will never happen.
4. Rebuilding trust is a must when pain has been inflicted. It has nothing to do with forgiveness. Two separate things here.
5. Co-dependence is not of God.
6. How I respond to situations exposes my faith-or lack thereof. It also exposes where I may need a deeper heart healing.
7. A cycle continues when we refuse to address it with Christ and with others. Like a never-ending merry-go-round. We will leave a trail of broken pieces until we learn the true way of Jesus in our situations. We begin to live in a skewed “normal” of destructive behavioral patterns.
8. Avoidance helps no one but guarding your heart is essential to your well-being and Kingdom call.
9. Be the kind of friend you want to have.
10. Reach back for others in a world that is always running after their own destiny. Be careful you don’t use others as step rungs on your ladder to divine purpose.

I have failed at many of these and have had to live with the consequences of my own mistakes. However, some things are always one step away from God resolving. He is often waiting on us to simply have one conversation, extend a hand of mercy, or give a long-overdue apology.

Let us be doers of the word not just hearers. For the world is having much trouble understanding why they would want to be like us.

May God expose all He needs to in this season so that we may live a life worthy of our callings.