You wearing spurs?

Know why so many arguments happen? We aren't walking 'in tune' with each other - we have gotten out of step with one another. We are so focused on something else and we get all 'out of whack' with each other - sometimes without even noticing. Whenever we are 'doing our own thing', we have little concern for what the 'other guy' needs or wants in the relationship. We find ourselves running over each other quite easily and that is what leads to frustration, eventually either emerging in an argument or hurt feelings. God doesn't want this to be the way we live, so maybe we should consider how to avoid these relationship pitfalls.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. (Colossians 3:15 MSG)

The peace of Christ is to be the overriding principle in our relationships. Yet we struggle so much with allowing his peace to guide our steps. What impacts his peace in us? One of the first things that impacts that peace is when we find ourselves drifting into taking things and others for granted - not really being thankful for these things and people God has given into our lives. Yes, he gives us each other - we don't find each other all on our own, you know? We are brought into relationship with one another - ushered there by the hand of God. When we are no longer thankful for these relationships, they become a thing we take for granted - and this leads to relationship woes galore! Trust me - I speak from experience!

Another thing that dynamically impacts our internal peace, and will affect how well we live at peace with one another, is not getting a steady and hearty intake of the Word of God. Now, this is more than just reading a passage and saying, "That was good." We have to ingest it, digest it, invest it, and divest it! Take it in (ingest it). Get it working on the inside of us (digest it). Find ways to let it multiply within and without us (invest it). Give it away to others so they can put it through the same process themselves (divest it). The Word of God is powerful, but it won't impact our relationships if we are always just casually considering it. We have to get into it and allow it to get into us!

The peace of God is also nurtured through worship - letting your heart soar in praise and adoration for the one who gives us life and peace. The grace of God is a great thing - but does it spark a sense of worship within? If not, then we may have become a little too complacent in our appreciation of his grace. We might want to ask God to help us 'tune up' our thankfulness for his work in our lives, then we might just see we become a little more thankful for the ones God has placed us into relationship with in this journey of faith. Life isn't about the things we get out of it as much as it is about those we travel alongside as we go through it. We need peace inside, peace impacting our actions, and we might just find we are spurring one another on toward peace in this world. Just sayin!