Daily Rhema: Understanding, Avoiding and Overcoming Strife

Proverbs 19:11 KJV
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

What is strife?
Strife is contentious and argumentative words and attitudes. Wanting to have the last word, or wanting to make your point or win an argument: that’s strife! This is not only happening in the Church but also in the home, between husbands and wives; in the workplace!

One of the places where Satan operates through strife the most, however, is in the home. Once you get into strife, Satan can walk in and out and take you captive at his will! (Jas. 3:16).

One thing about strife is that it is so innocuous that we don’t take notice of it; we think it is just the person’s opinion.
Strife is as small and seemingly insignificant as the mosquito; so you don’t pay particular attention to it. But it’s effects upon the Body of Christ can incapacitate or, kill spiritually!

Strife spiritually kills more Christians than adultery, fornication, lying, stealing and such like: the so called ‘big sins’, the stigma sins, which all agree are bad.

The truth however, is that it is strife that opens the door for all the other sins to enter, and because there is no stigma attached to strife, Satan uses it to gain entrance into our souls, bodies and circumstances to cause the ‘big sins’!

The root of strife is pride:
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom (Prov. 13:10).

How then do we avoid strife?
We must avoid strife like the plague! Do not underestimate strife; it is Satan’s trap! Once you allow yourself to become trapped, it could take the intervention of somebody else to bring you out of that trap! Otherwise you may remain entrapped till the strife literally kills (Songs 2:15)!

Winning a dispute doesn’t add to us, but winning a human being does. Avoid contention as much as possible. Even when making a point, make it and then leave it in peace! Don’t insist on your own rights, because it is the insisting that causes problems. Be as sweet as you were before, when your point is not accepted. It doesn’t make you a fool; you are just doing what God told you to do (1Cor. 13:5)!

How do we overcome strife?
We must to learn to overcome strife when it comes by forgiveness and asking life for that person (1Jn. 5:16 ).

In this context, especially for those in strife, we should ask life for the person by saying: ‘Father, I confess our sins, in Jesus name we have life’, and then pray in the Spirit with tongues for a while for the spiritual atmosphere to change.

When we are in strife, we can bind the devil, speak in tongues, pour anointing oil, but it will not work. The devil walks in and out as he likes. Get rid of strife NOW, before it breaks out in your heart, and overflows into your circumstances (Prov. 17:14 )!

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