OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what 'cause-effect' relationship do I see in vs. 20?
Because Joseph considered to divorce Mary quietly without wanting to expose Mary to public disgrace, the effect is 'an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.'

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself the significance of the cause-effect relationship in vs. 20?
The significance is enormous considering that Joseph did not act hastily to make a decision but decided to wait without rushing into a decision. The effect was that he was able to sleep on his decision and was revealed a correct decision to make in a dream. This would not have happened if he had acted hastily in a situation that he saw negative.

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what implications does Joseph's actions have for my own life?
The purpose of today's study was for me to understand the benefit of carefully considering a decision to be made in a conflict without acting in haste for when we do that, the Lord can reveal the right decision through different means so our decision does not make waste. If Joseph acted in haste then he would have divorced Mary but he did not act in haste and the Lord intervened in his life through a dream.  I learned that I need to wait in faith on the Lord so haste does not make waste. I know the Lord Jesus can intervene in my own life too through different means when I wait upon Him.  He can intervene in your life too!

I ask you now dear friend why W.A.I.T through conflict in life?

Dear friend, when wait through conflict in life, our Lord and Savior can help us through the conflict by revealing the correct decision that should be made.  It does not necessarily have to be revealed in a dream but the Lord Jesus can reveal it to you through His Word, through His Spirit, through His community, etc which will not contradict His Word. 

Joseph's wait to consider the decision to be made in a negative conflict gave him what the correct decision should be as opposed to if he had acted hastily on impulse or anger. An hasty decision would have hurt Joseph, Mary, and all those around them. Our hasty decisions in conflict can not only hurt us but those around us.

When we are upset it can be easy to retaliate because we are sinful beings but that should not be an excuse for you nor I to retaliate. This Christmas season we can be the ones to show love even through a conflict whether it is family based, friends based, employee/employer based, etc by considering what the right decision should be instead of acting in anger and impulse. This is a lesson I wish I had learned and applied multiple times even in my marriage with my loving sweetheart Chandraleela and my sweet daughters Esther and Evangeline.

When we do consider what decision to make in a negative conflict seeking the Lord earnestly, it is amazing what the Lord can do. There are always positive and negative ways to handle a conflict especially when we are hurt. With the Lord's help, we can choose the positive way.

Friend, I don't know what conflict you are going through right now if any but if you are, don't rush into judgment thinking you have to act right away. No, friend sit back and consider your options. Think about all the pros and cons of a decision but especially what God's Word has to say about the decision you have to make. When you do that you will experience His peace knowing that the result you get is blessed by the Lord. Also, when you take time you may even fall asleep and when you wake up, you could know what to do because you got a dream, got a Word from the Lord, heard something from a community of believers, etc. But remember, it has to be tested with God's Word because whatever decision you need to make will not contradict His Word.

Even before I studied this verse, an important verse from Isaiah 40:31 came to my mind that says, "Those that wait upon the Lord will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary; they will walk and not faint"

For us it should start with the Lord Jesus Christ. When we take Him as our Lord and Personal Savior and walk in His path, He will lead us and guide us to make wise decisions remembering 'a wise man controls his tongue; he knows anger causes mistakes' (Proverbs 14)

Wait in faith upon the Lord for He promises you that you will mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint. In other words, the Lord Jesus will bring you through the conflict you are in. Wait upon Him and do not give up.

This Christmas season wait upon the Lord Jesus surrendering to Him as your Lord and Personal Savior for He paid the price for you at the Cross of Calvary before coming as a baby in a manger. His Blood cleanses you of all your sins and sets you free.

May you wait upon the Lord Jesus Christ knowing wonderfully Almighty's intervention's timely!

"Wonderfully Almighty's Intervention's Timely! (W.A.I.T)"/"Why W.A.I.T through conflict in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for revealing how Joseph reacted to a situation without acting in haste. He considered his options and did not move into judgment hastily. In the process, an angel of the Lord revealed to him in a dream what correct decision to make. Oh Lord, help us please not to act in haste knowing it makes waste but to wait in faith knowing wonderfully Almighty's intervention is timely. For that to happen, we need to constantly be focused on you Oh Lord instead of our problems that we wait upon you. Help me to do that Lord for I struggle in this area. Thanks so much Jesus. Thank you when we wait in faith regarding decisions in conflicts too, you will reveal the answer through your Word, through your Spirit, and through the Community of believers, your body, the Church and we can know it is from you when it does not contradict Your Word. Thanks so much Jesus.

I pray for the one right now who is in deep distress because of the circumstances of their lives especially a conflict they are going through. Oh Lord, their flesh is telling them to act hastily and prematurely but I pray Oh Lord that you give them your wisdom to wait in faith upon you to get the correct decision. Thanks so much Jesus. I pray this for me too. Thank you that we can turn to you and talk to you knowing you are there for us loving us so much. Thanks for being our Lord and Personal Savior when we accept you into our heart and ask you to lead us and guide us. Thank you for dying on the cross of Calvary to save us as you shed your precious cleansing blood to purify us and coming back on the third day to give us Eternal Life forever by your grace as we accept your grace. I do Oh Lord. Thank you for being born to save humanity as we reflect on this Christmas season. Help us to wait on thee always. Thank you for hearing my prayers and answering me. In Your precious Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!