Matthew 5:44 says, “But love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” I once heard it said that if it weren’t for having to deal with people, business could be a lot of fun.
Any time that we’re dealing with people, the potential for conflict is there whether at home or at work. Unresolved conflicts with fellow workers, supervisors, and customers can be very harmful to our business success.
I want to share with you a powerful and secret weapon that you have at your disposal in terms of helping you resolve conflict at work. Not too long ago, someone got to me. He got me mad, and I became very angry. I let him know it, too.
I think I was correct in communicating my feelings with this person, and I think I actually did so in an appropriate manner. I didn’t lose my cool or say things that I later regretted. But here’s where I failed: I didn’t pray for that person, and that was wrong.
Scripture clearly teaches us to love and pray for those who do us wrong. I missed the mark on this one. Here’s an incredible truth: God has wired our brains so that we can’t hold two opposing thoughts about someone at the exact same time. In other words, we can’t be thinking bad or negative things about him at the exact same time that we’re praying for him. So prayer is a powerful way to help you resolve conflict.
How about you? Is there someone in your life right now that you’re angry or upset with? Maybe a supervisor, coworker, or family member? So stop right now and pray for him. Ask God to bless him and help him in all areas of his life. You will be amazed at the sense of peace and comfort that overcome you as you pray for him. When you do this, you’ll be applying the truth at work.