by Elizabeth Haarberg

God has the ability to transform our lives.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

My team at work was requested to take a personality test. We then came together to evaluate and examine our strengths and weaknesses. We also discovered how to deal with and diffuse conflict.

The test results were interesting. As the facilitator explained what they meant, the results for each person seemed accurate. For me, it was challenging to have the facilitator tell the whole group my Achilles heel. I know things about myself that I don’t share with others. I was faced with dealing publicly with my liabilities.

One of my biggest issues is that I tend to identify an enemy in the group, or find fault with an organization. I’ve known this for a while, but the facilitator called it out. I pulled him aside and admitted I’m aware of my fault, and asked him how to fix it. He recommended reading and meditating on James 4:1-4 and Philippians 4:8.

“Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start? Is it not precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves? You want something and you lack it; so you kill. You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get your way by force. It is because you do not pray that you do not receive, when you do pray and do not receive, it is because you prayed wrongly, wanting to indulge your passions.”
James 4:1-4

“Finally, brothers, let your minds be filled with everything that is true, everything that is honorable, everything that is upright and pure, everything that we love and admire-with whatever is good and praiseworthy.”
Philippians 4:8

In this walk with Jesus, I’m constantly reminded we’re all a work in progress. Giving grace to myself and others is part of the journey.

I heard a pastor say a few months ago that if he feels irritation with someone, he focuses on them until he can feel God’s love for that person.

I’m better than I used to be, but I still have a long way to go.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado