Confronting Without Offending Chapter Summary

I selected the 4MAT book review Confronting Without Offending: Positive and Practical Steps to Resolving Conflict by Deborah Smith Pagues. The book hit home for me about dealing with confrontation and conflict. I personally tried to avoid conflict and confrontation at all cost. The book shared the importance of what confrontation really is and how to deal with it. I’ve loss valuable friendships because I allowed conflict and misunderstandings to breach the bond. Pagues paints a clear picture of when confrontation is done correctly it can be an influential tool for repairing and straightening fragmented relationships. I’ve also learned that avoiding confrontation stunned personal growth. The book challenged me to see beyond peoples issues and accept that some people will always have different opinions. Now I feel more relaxed and open to opportunities to confront
These focuses will help restore order and effectiveness to the ministry dilemmas that I previously encountered. (1). Preparing for the encounter was at the top of my list for achieving my goal. The Author stated that being prepared for a confrontation is establishing the right purpose for putting the issue on the table with the ultimate goal for achieving a better relationship (Pagues, 2006, p. 68). (2). Speaking the right words was also a challenge for me. The Author stated that “prayer is essential at this point. You must get God’s mind and insight on the matter and seek Him for the exact words to us (Pagues, 2006, p. 75). The fear of saying the wrong thing has hindered my walk with Christ because I allowed the enemy to speak into my ear that discouraged me in praying and seeking Him face to give me the words to confront my situations. I acknowledge now “for God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7,