H.A.L.T. who goes there?!

Last week, my boyfriend and I almost got into an argument *inserts shocked eyes emoji*. For those of you who don't see the big deal, let me provide some context: We haven't argued in over a year. And within that year, we've only almost argued ONE other time.


"Why," you ask? Well, we decided that we don't have time for that. That we only have time for loving. For encouraging. For inspiring. For supplicating. For supporting. For uncovering.


Uncovering??


That's right...uncovering. Outwitting the enemy. Blaming him for conflict instead of one another. Recognizing potential footholds that could give him access to our relationship and eliminating them(Ephesians 4:27).


See we know he hates us. We know he's looking for a way to penetrate our force field. And that's why "almost argued" is as much as he'll get out of us. Because we're on guard. And here's how you can be too:

I learned the acronym "H.A.L.T." about a year ago when I was seeing a counselor in hopes of addressing some issues from my past. "H," he said, "is for hungry. A, for angry. L, for lonely. T, for tired. If you become any of the four, your personality will shift." "Brilliant!," I thought, "another way to beat the enemy at his game." Essentially a cheat code. A way to test attitude against character, holding one (or a combination) of these four culprits responsible for causing you to act outside of yourself.

By being aware of - and preparing for - the power of hunger, anger, loneliness, and fatigue, you can bamboozle satan. Your arguments too can be reduced to "almost arguments" - to moments of "Hold up Bae, we're not really going to do this are we?" To reminders to call forth the God in one another because well...you're too good to argue. To opportunities to - aware of the enemy's attempt to drive a wedge between you and your Boo - look your partner in the eye, hold hands, and sneer at the enemy, because you peeped his attempt and respect his effort, but ain't havin' it.

Our "almost argument" didn't become anything more because we were quickly able to pull out "H.A.L.T." and use it as a tool to recognize that - because it was three in the morning - we were tired and attitudinal. After that came the I love you's and peace was yet again restored.

Having overcome the power of misplaced conflict (we realize our battle is NEVER with one another and ALWAYS with satan), we want to offer H.A.L.T. as a gift to you. Because if we ain't got time fuh ' arguing, you don't either!