Love in the Dining Room Part 4 Peaceful Phlegmatic

Published by Angela | Filed under Personalities

I haven’t bloged in a long time – it’s a focused Choleric trait.  Too many deadlines, prep for Women of Purpose Conference, Marriage Retreat, speaking engagements, Thanksgiving, Christmas musical, shopping and decorating have all taken my focus.  Plus the internet has been down for two weeks for my laptop. For those of you who have not been following the “Love in the Dining Room” series, it’s about how the different personalities commune with God. With all the different influences on our personalities and personality blends this generalization may not be a perfect fit.  If you are Phlegmatic I know that won’t get you too disturbed; you’re too cool, calm and collected to get your feathers ruffled.  Feel free to add any of your own observations in the comment section. 

The Peaceful Phlegmatic is a relater by nature.  Being friendly and easy going, their communion with God is relaxed and informal.  They have no problem just sitting at the table communing while work waits.  There’s not a frenetic need to move, achieve or prove anything.  Because Peaceful Phlegmatics don’t get caught up in performance or busyness they have time for a relationship with God.   The Peaceful Phlegmatic reads scripture until something speaks to them and then they stop to ponder its message. Taking time for reflection is an important part of their communion.  Because it takes them longer to process their thoughts than the other personalities, they don’t like to be rushed or stressed by being expected to cover too much territory.  Slow and steady is their pace but consistency is their nature. Devotionals with small bites of inspiration are a preference.   

The Sovereignty of God is their spiritual theme.  When God is in control all will be well and at peace in the world.  Scriptures about peace, comfort and rest especially attract their attention.  They relate well to Christ as their Shepherd who leads them to green pastures and beside still waters of rest.   Challenges for the Peaceful Phlegmatic include:

• They can be too relaxed about the relationship and get stuck in the same place without much growth.
• They are not easily motivated to “get out of the boat” of complacency or comfort, consequently they don’t like their boat rocked.  This can keep them from receiving truth that challenges where they are spiritually.
• They are good hearers but not strong on the “doing.”  Putting the Word into action is sometimes just too much like work. 
• Because they are “middle of the road” people whom everyone likes, it can sometimes be difficult for them to see any need for change or growth in their lives.  “What’s the big deal, anyway” they may mumble.
• They don’t know how to say “no” so they may over commit themselves and then not be able to live up to their commitments.  This may eventually keep them from getting involved at all in Christian service.
• If they are blended with the Sanguine they won’t enjoy the deeper studies.

As a Peaceful Phlegmatic you need to use your strengths to keep you growing.  You are good at one-on-one communication.  Prayer is simply talking to God and then listening for His voice to speak to you.  Reading the Word and pondering on it is a good way of listening for His voice.  Do not compare yourself to others and berate yourself for your slow pace.  You have a strength of “being” instead of doing.  Be in relationship with God and out of that will naturally flow actions of service and worship to God.   Just keep steady and consistent – “run the race with perseverance.” (Hebrews 12:2).   

Have a peaceful Christmas — Angela