I am a sword slinger.

My weapon of choice is sarcasm. I like to swagger into a tense situation and slash through my opponent’s heart with a sharp word. After all, I am a writer.

For years, I considered it my responsibility to fight for the tenderhearted underdog in my family. I was called to defend the helpless by bickering with a bully at our dinner table. Every conversation was an epic battle.

I wanted to right a wrong, but my verbal sparring techniques only created more conflict and confusion. I wasn’t winning any wars or changing a thing. My super powers were sorely lacking.

I thought my relative needed to reform, but God wanted to refine me.

The apocalyptic arguments at our family gatherings finally ended when I cried out to Christ and begged Him to fight this battle on my behalf. I got down on my knees by my bed one morning and surrendered my sword to my Savior.

Jesus gave me a new combat strategy:

I stopped nagging, and I started listening.

I measured my words, and I prayed for God’s wisdom.

I growled less and loved more.

Maybe like me, you are weary of the constant combat, and you want to find a better way to wage war. I want to invite you to discover a new heroine. Her name is Brave, and she wears a garment of praise rather than getting pushy.

Brave lays down her sword and loves.

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3 Ways Laying Down Your Sword is Brave

Brave discovers a fresh perspective.

Brave doesn’t need to defend what is right by thrusting with her tongue. We fight smarter when we slow down and lean in to listen to a diverse opinion. When we close our mouths and open our ears, God often expands our heart and reveals the weight of brokenness our adversary is carrying.

“Empathy chooses to enter into the dark places of another’s world, to shiver in the cold with them, and to wait with them.” ~Adam McHugh from The Listening Life

Brave witnesses God’s healing power.

Our Spirit-filled words have power to speak life over broken people. We can transform the atmosphere of our homes by affirming one another. Courtesy creates space for goodwill.

“In every encounter we either give life or we drain it. There is no neutral exchange.” ~Brennan Manning from Abba’s Child

Brave promotes a greater peace.

God has appointed us as His ambassadors of reconciliation, and this hard work is worth every effort. We have an enemy – but it’s not our pesky relatives and negative Nelly neighbors. Brave remembers to fight the real foe by rising above personal feelings to focus on the greater work of redemption. We are called to keep carrying Christ’s love into hard spaces.

In  the battle, brave cuts through conflict by wielding kindness, grace, and calm.  Brave knows God’s love is the strongest weapon of all.  

Respond gently when you are confronted and you’ll defuse the rage of another. Responding with sharp, cutting words will only make it worse. Don’t you know that being angry can ruin the testimony of even the wisest of men? (Proverbs 15:1, TPT)

Brave arms herself with the life-giving Word and lets God fight her battles. Brave is a grace slinger.

 

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