Conflict is unavoidable, and most of us have someone we have mentally written off as 'other.' Once a person lands in that category, we stop giving them the benefit of the doubt and start cataloging every flaw. The Lord's Prayer offers a surprisingly practical framework for breaking that cycle. Starting with 'Our Father' reminds us that every person, no matter how much they have hurt us, is made in the image of God. Praying for His kingdom to come in a conflict helps clarify what outcome we actually want. The forgiveness line holds us accountable for our own posture before we ever walk into a hard conversation. And asking God to lead us away from temptation prepares us for the reactivity that will almost certainly show up in the moment. The work of moving someone out of the 'other' category begins in your own heart, and the Lord's Prayer is a powerful place to start.
