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6 Steps to Pulling The Root From Strife
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Philippians 2:3
Strife wipes me out.
If I'm in the middle of a task and someone starts arguing about something with me or someone else around me it really tires me out. I think each of us are always on one end of that conversation. We're either the person who started the strife or someone fueling it.
And why do we fuel it?
I believe we fuel conversations because we're caught up in pride. Who do they think they are type of attitude, but really who do we think we are?
When I look at the words in the above scripture it makes me consider my attitude because Jesus was constantly challenged by the Pharisees daily. Constantly egging him on, trying to make him get caught up in his flesh. Yet, Jesus never gave into his feelings. In fact many times he didn't even waste his breath and when he finally did say something it was still honoring God.
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
Luke 22:24
Even the disciples had an issue with strife in Luke, at the Passover with Jesus!
So don't act like you're too saved to stir up strife because that's not the truth.
The devil wants us to think about ourselves, argue, meddle and get caught up in vainglory. Forget esteeming others better than our selves, forget about encouraging them because we have to defend ourselves.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work
James 3:16
We don't want to open up the door to every evil work.
We want to encourage people where they are or walk away if we can feel the situation getting out of hand.
The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:14
When we hold our peace the Lord fights for us!
In Ephesians 6:15 we're told to be prepared by walking in the gospel of peace.
To me that means to be mindful of the word in our daily situations, knowing when to fold them, knowing when to walk away, knowing when to run, Kenny Rogers had the right lyrics in that song! But it's the truth! We know when we're getting out of God's will. We know when we should walk away, yet we don't listen!
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
God gives us peace, but are we willing to take it?
Take heed to it and give the strife to him?
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
James 3:18
Friend we have to have the mind to make peace.
Peace is one of the fruits of the spirit! How does a fruit become a fruit?
It's a little seed that's planted, watered and grows into a healthy fruit!
I believe to walk in peace we have to plant the seeds in our heart to sow peace when the seed of strife is trying to take root. Even if that means saying the other person is right and we're wrong or agreeing to disagree. We can do that!
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14
When you and I decide to walk in peace, whether the other person acknowledges or not it's a witness of our walk with the Lord. When we take the peace of the Lord, and allow him to fight our battles we're following peace!
Will it hurt our pride? Yes! As it should!
Pride comes before a fall, so we want peace not pride.
We don't want to fall! We want to stand in the name of the Lord!
So what should we do?
6 Steps to Pulling The Root From Strife
1) Esteem others better than ourselves, in other words treat them the way we want to be treated. Consider their feelings even if it's hard to.
2) Hold your peace! This is a tough one, but when you feel yourself getting emotional take a step back. Ask for a few minutes alone if it's a problem that had to be dealt with then. Go pray! Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and understanding. To help you deal with the person and the problem.
3) Remember God gives you peace! That the Lord is with you! He is witnessing everything you do and say. What's more God knows the motives of your heart.
4) Whatever it takes plant the seed of peace! I know it's not easy to back down, to say you're wrong and their right (even if their wrong), but is strife and every evil work worth you proving your point? No!
5) Follow peace! When we consider the word, love others, treat them as we want to be treated we're being a living testimony of Christ in us!
6) Ask God to help you to plant seeds of peace and watch it grow!
Many Blessings~
Jen G~
AWOE Magazine.com
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