In Touch Daily Devotional 5th March 2021 By Dr Charles Stanley – Handling Conflict and Criticism

In Touch Daily Devotional 5th March 2021 By Dr Charles Stanley Message

Topic: Handling Conflict and Criticism

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 7

1 O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge; Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,

2 Or he will tear my soul like a lion, Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this, If there is injustice in my hands,

4 If I have rewarded evil to my friend, Or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary,

5 Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; And let him trample my life down to the ground And lay my glory in the dust. Selah.

6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries, And arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment.

7 Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You, And over them return on high.

8 The LORD judges the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.

9 O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.

10 My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge, And a God who has indignation every day.

12 If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready.

13 He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons; He makes His arrows fiery shafts.

14 Behold, he travails with wickedness, And he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood.

15 He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, And has fallen into the hole which he made.

16 His mischief will return upon his own head, And his violence will descend upon his own pate.

17 I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

In Touch Daily Devotional 5th March 2021 By Dr Charles Stanley

Contention can cause painful injury, especially when we feel misunderstood or wrongly accused. If someone speaks untruths about us, it seems as though salt is being poured into the wound. A typical first reaction is self-defense and an attempt to claim our rights, yet God’s Word teaches a different approach.

Contrary to our natural inclinations, the proper response to criticism and conflict is humility. In Psalm 7, David laments being persecuted but immediately asks the Lord to test his own heart and reveal if he has done anything wrong. Then, instead of taking matters into his own hands, he asks the Lord to vindicate him.

Romans 12:19 reminds us never to take our own revenge, but rather to leave vengeance to God. As Romans 12:21 tells us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” In other words, we must leave the situation with God and trust Him to vindicate us in His time and way.

We should ask ourselves, Am I willing to check my own motives before pointing a finger or becoming defensive? Jesus said we’re to bless those who curse us (Luke 6:28). So let’s ask Him for the grace and humility to examine our own heart and trust Him to be our defender.

Bible in One Year: Joshua 1-3

Thanks for reading In Touch Daily Devotional 5th March 2021 By Dr Charles Stanley