Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 19: 1-7
Have you ever had to confront someone you’re close to about their actions, attitude or words? It’s not an easy task. In fact, it can be downright uncomfortable and even a little scary. So often when we think about confrontation, a fiery interaction comes to mind. But confrontation doesn’t have to be loud, heated, unpleasant or ugly at all. In fact, it can be just the opposite. As Jonathan demonstrated in this account, being wise in the approach we choose to take in confrontation is key.
First and foremost, our demeanor–our attitude, tone of voice, facial expressions, body language–sets the tone. As difficult as it may be, this means that we need to begin an interaction calmly, and then remain calm, as we interact. And it will also serve us well to be prepared, having thought through the message we want to deliver and the best words we can use to convey that message before we engage. As I took in our passage this morning, Jonathan seemed to demonstrate all of these strategies. What a good example of how to speak truth to a difficult person in a difficult situation.
What’s the most important lesson about confrontation that you learned or noticed from this account? How important was it that Jonathan chose to ask Saul questions rather than tell him what he was doing wrong? How important is it to pray and seek God’s direction before engaging in confrontation? Tami
Source: Tami’s Blog
