If you have a relationship with anyone- marriage, friendship, co-worker, parent, roommate, etc.- you will face difficult conversations. It is a good and healthy thing for the individuals in relationships to disagree occasionally. Disagreement, handled well, can deepen the bonds of that relationship because it offers acceptance and freedom for each person to be themselves. However, getting through that difficult conversation, can harm the relationship, if the parties do not know how to handle conflict.

Here are 3 things to pray for when facing a difficult conversation:

1) Help me to be eager to listen and understand, and slow to respond. Please remove the temptation to react.
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 'for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

2) Please show me your perspective and mold the words of my mouth and the thoughts (about this situation/person) from my heart to be the same as Yours.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 ESV

3) Please be the guard over my mouth, so that what I say builds up and extends grace.
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” Psalms 141:3
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29