What is God teaching you about how you personally handle conflict in your life? · How can “speaking the truth in love” help you to gain greater understanding of those with whom you have conflict? · What conflicts have you delayed resolving?

I think for me the handling of conflict is a tricky proposition. I tend to lie in the school of the "passive / aggressive" type. Often the way I handle conflict is to block it out, to hold my frustrations in, until they eventually explode in a situation that is not becoming of an individual. I have to be willing to clearly communicate the issues that I am having in an open forum; too often I let things pick at me. Speaking the truth in love allows me to express my feelings before it builds up and festers into something greater than it ever needed to be.

I can't think of any conflicts that I need to resolve; I feel like certain conflicts need space for perspective before a resolution can come to pass. When we distance ourselves from the situation a bit, we are better able to understand every side of the story. 

Three key words to make part of your journal experience this lesson: · Acknowledge that sin has had devastating effects in your own life, family, and world. · Confess any known sins in your present life—and forsake them at once. · Praise God for past and present forgiveness for sin and for cleansing your heart.

As I look at this list of things in regard to sin, I am most intrigued by the last one. It seems easy to acknowledge the problems we have in our lives, the sin that so easily entangles. It seems easy to confess that to God. I think we run into issues with forsaking our sin and praising God for his forgiveness. I think often the Devil creeps into our lives, with his lies and deception that makes us think that we are not truly forgiven. We have to continue to hold to the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the blood that makes us whole. We can never let go of the great thing that Jesus has done on our behalf in extending his great mercy towards us.