BOBBY MCGRAW

speaker + instigator of hope

Avoiding Disaster




	
	
	
	
	

		
								

Bobby McGraw - August 15, 2019


Avoiding Disaster




    

		
		
Avoiding Disaster

		
	

	
	

	

			   		   	
	   			
Download Audio
					    			

		

				

	
	
						



	
		
Powered by Series Engine

You’re probably familiar with the phrase: hindsight is 20/20. It’s a phrase that reminds us that we don’t always see things clearing until it’s too late. 

Have you ever realized something was a mistake after it was too late? I know I have. 

Things are not always as they seem. Hindsight is 20/20 reminds us that people are able to evaluate past decisions more clearly than they did in the moment. 

Proverbs reminds us of this truth. 

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

— Proverbs 12:15 NLT

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

— Proverbs 16:25 NLT

Nobody sets out to make a disastrous decision. In the moment, it seems right. It seems obvious. And then it blows up in our face.

Is it possible to get clarity BEFORE it’s too late? Is it possible to avoid the mistake and the negative repercussions that come from it?

I believe there are at least five strategies we can employ to avoid disaster.

5 Strategies for Avoiding Disaster

1. Trust God

This is the starting point. No matter how smart you are, God knows more than you do. The one who knows you best knows what is best for you. Trust him. Rest in him. Don’t try to manufacture you own path.

2. Listen to Godly Counsel

There is wisdom in hearing from godly friends, families, mentors, etc. Give them a little context and ask, “Am I missing anything here? Any red flags?”

3. Plan Carefully

Create a game plan. Start with the destination in mind and then work backwards. This helps you get clear on where you are going and while determining the steps to get there.

4. Check Your Words and Emotions

Misguided words or out of control emotions can derail even the best plans. When they go unchecked, we sabotage ourselves. Look out for areas you are overreacting to. That’s typically a symptom of a deeper issue.

5. Know Your Heart

Pay attention to what’s going on inside of you. Are you in a good place? The best plans come from walking with God consistently. As God shapes your heart, you can take surer steps. You path becomes clearer — more obvious.

Here’s a challenge for you today. I stead of saying, “I’m going to do whatever I think is best.” Ask, “What is the wisest thing to do?” Then listen and follow whatever God tells you to do. And when you do, you’ll avoid disaster.

Arresting the Situation




	
	
	
	
	

		
								

Bobby McGraw - August 13, 2019


Arresting the Situation




    

		
		
Arresting the Situation

		
	

	
	

	

			   		   	
	   			
Download Audio
				
From Series: "Weekday Podcast"
	    			

		

				

	
	
						



	
		
Powered by Series Engine

To arrest something means to stop it. Put an end to it. Take control of. There are times we need to do this as it relates to potential conflict in our lives.

“Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.” — Proverbs 17:14 NLT

Opening a floodgate brings devastation. If you were to get rid of the dam near my house, thousands of homes and lives would likely be destroyed. In a similar way, starting an argument can do the same thing: it can destroy relationships. It can leave lasting damage.

Not all confrontation is bad. Ephesians 4 teaches that we should speak the truth in love. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is to confront somebody, but to remember to do it in love.

One of the things that makes this particular proverb so helpful is that it reminds us of the potential impact of disputes. It seems to teach us that disputes should be a last resort, not an operating principle.

Some people enjoy conflict. It seems they enjoy starting something for the sake of it. Others exaggerate situations in order to get a rise out of another person.  But this proverb reminds us that living this way can lead to some irreversible results.

So how do you arrest the situation before it get’s out of hand? How do you handle the right way?

1. Inventory Your Motives

We typically have a binary way of looking at conflict. What I mean by that is we think the other person is totally wrong and we are totally right. Experience will tell us, though, its never really that clear cut. So before we point our fingers at someone else, let’s look within, at our own motives. Motives are rarely all good or all bad.

2. Seek Godly Counsel

It is usually helpful to talk with a trusted friend, spouse, or mentor about a situation to get their input. An outside perspective can often help us to see a situation more clearly.

3. Clarify the Wrong

Now that you have a bit of distance from the incident, ask yourself, “Has a wrong actually occurred? Why am I reacting to this? What do I wish had happened?” Clarity brings a great deal of confidence.

4. Do the Loving Thing

At times, we’ll find that we overreacted to something and the most loving thing to do is to drop the issue. In these cases the goal is to learn from them. To begin to identify the triggers that set us down this path so that we can arrest them sooner.

Other times, we’ll find that an injustice has indeed occurred. And the most loving thing to do for the other person (and ourselves) is to speak the truth love.

Conflict is inevitable. Dealing with conflict in a damaging way is not necessary. It is possible to handle hard situations the right way. For me, that often starts with me praying and asking God for wisdom to know what to do and the self-control to do whatever it is he tells me to do.

That’s the best way I’ve found to arrest the situation.

Let’s change the world together!

Let's start the conversation.

Contact Me