Don't Allow Negatives to Veto Positives

A life-long task human beings face is learning to manage conflict with others as well as internal struggles that can disrupt happiness and peace. Conflict, regardless of its origin, affects your body, mind and spiritual well-being. Conflict is fatiguing when resolutions that promise peace are continually rejected.

Mismanaged conflict lies at the core of emotional distress that’s fueled by hurt feelings, anger and anxiety. These feelings trigger reactive thinking and behavior that undermine attempts at problem solving and securing peace. We bring forward into the present time inner distress experienced from troubled relationships.

Securing inner peace in the midst of conflict is possible by refusing to permit negative emotions to veto resolutions. Peace is a choice and possible when acceptable resolutions are inaugurated. It’s important to remember the Lord God honors those who are peacemakers. They are called sons and daughters of God. 

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Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!  

~Proverbs 12:20 New Living Translation

Try to live at peace with everyone! Live a clean life. If you don’t, you will never see the Lord.

~Hebrews 12:14 Contemporary English Version

How Sneaky IS Evil?

When evil is permitted to rule unrestrained, what is held in high esteem and cherished will ultimately be destroyed. Evil undermines a lifestyle that looks beyond oneself to the rights and needs of others. Evil gives birth to extreme self-centeredness, a perception that other people are worthwhile only as they serve evil’s purpose. 

Evil does not distort truth completely, but enough to deceive those influenced by the distortions. Terrorists are experts in using bits of truth to convince followers to take up evil’s ideology and goals. Evil darkens the heart and mind to the point where life has room only for the fulfillment of wicked deeds and objectives.

Evil is comprised of just enough half-truths to convince those who would stand against it to look the other way. Christians dedicated to serving the Lord must be on guard, so they will not be lured into evil. The Holy Spirit keeps a constant vigil to guard and guide us. Carefully listen to God's warnings and reject evil in every shape and form.  

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Deceit fills hearts that are plotting for evil; joy fills hearts that are planning for good!

~Proverbs 12:20 The Living Bible

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

~1 Corinthians 10:13 The Message

The Tragedy of Self-Deception

What lies at the core of self-deception? Usually it includes a desire for something that is unacceptable. Self-deception is comparable to experimenting with drugs and convincing oneself that getting hooked will not happen. Conventional wisdom declares, "If you play with fire, you’ll get burned." Self-deception's reply is, “Not me! I'm too smart."

 

Self-deception refuses to accept reality. A man or a woman agrees to an affair by being convinced it can be hidden and kept secret. A worse rationale is, "I’ll be able to handle it by extinguishing the fire if I get caught and convince others it didn’t mean anything." Some believe guilt and shame will be powerless and of no consequence.

The tragedy of self-deception is, it shuts down a part of you that is necessary to happiness and peace. It suffocates the potential for healthy relationship by closing down trust and truthfulness. Self-deception refuses to believe that God has a better plan, which is openness and honesty. Ask God to help you and he will.