Throughout the Scriptures, God warns us about the danger of strife. Yet, it's still one of the most common problems among believers. We let it get into our homes, our work places, our churches...everywhere!
Of course, we don't purposely let it in. We don't wake up in the morning and say, "I think I'm going to stir up some major strife today." We just inadvertently let it slip up on us one minor irritation at a time.
So, I urge you today to take a big stand against those little opportunities for strife. If you have a tendency to let things irritate you, decide to overcome that tendency. Arm yourself against them with the knowledge that this world isn't perfect, that there are people in it that aren't going to be nice to you. There are people who are going to stir you up and annoy you on purpose or by accident.
Make up your mind that, by the power of God, you're not going to let them get your peace. That peace is so important to your well-being. It will keep your body healthy. It will keep your relationships healthy. It will put you in a place where God can guide your steps and save you from some very grave mistakes.
If you've spent a lifetime getting your feathers ruffled over every little thing, it may take a while for you to break that habit. You may have to work at it a moment at a time. But you can do it.
I know. I had to do that where worrying is concerned. I'd worried for so many years and had come from such a family of worriers that I did it almost without thinking. When I learned worrying went contrary to the Word of God, I had to give it up one minute at a time. With the help of the Holy Spirit, every time a worried thought would come to me, I would overcome it with the Word of God. And I did that until I broke that worrying habit for good.
You can do the same thing with strife. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you start to notice and overcome it one moment at a time. Then, every time you start to get upset about something, rebuke that strife in the Name of Jesus and resist it. Say right out loud, "I am walking in the peace of God today."
You'll be surprised how much more wonderful living can be.
~Gloria Copeland... Faith to Faith
__________________ *~Gail~*& Miss Elizabeth
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth ~1 John 3:18
Even though you and I are of different faiths, with different beliefs/practices/etc.... I think this was an excellent post!
I agree with you on the point that everyone, regardless of faith, should work on stripping away strife/stress from one's life. There is so much that bogs us down, or can if we allow it to -- and when we are distracted we can not live in a state of "grace" -- no matter how you wish to interpret that state.
As a Pagan/Earth-Centered Mama, this is a belief I firmly hold, and one that I have taught to students -- and shared with friends. There is something to be said about the concept that "we create our own realities".... for as such, I think in many ways we in fact do so!
Good post -- good points.
Sounds like you're a person who not only "talks the talk" but "walks the walk" of their faith. Good for you!
Originally posted by Becca Even though you and I are of different faiths, with different beliefs/practices/etc.... I think this was an excellent post!
Good post -- good points.
Sounds like your a person who not only "talks the talk" but "walks the walk" of their faith. Good for you!
Blessings,
Grassaf,
Becca
Despite our differences in faith & beliefs, we all struggle with the same issues. Thank you for your kind words
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace.
Originally posted by ~Gentle Spirit~
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace.
Thanks Gail! What a difference there is in our day to day lives when we keep this kind of focus.
Thanks for the reminder. I look for 'triggers' to remind me to come back to this kind of balance when I get off base.
There are times I flat don't WANT to come back to peace and gentleness! I want to be grouchy and irritable.
There's where grace is so apparent - the spirit brings reminders - like yours.
__________________
joyce, so blessed to be mama to my darlin' boy paul (8/28/98) and my wild taryn rose (2/7/02)
I agree, this is a great post, no matter what your faith!
One thing that really stuck with me from my study of Buddhism is the Buddhist principle of impermanence (sp?). Nothing is gonna last forever in our finite life. I think about all the times when I was in the midst of some type of emotional upheaval. You always think that the horrible way you feel is going to go on for ever. But life has a way of moving on and you do get past things. And some things, the pettiness in life especially, have a way of disappearing altogether.
It's really helped me to keep that in mind. That no matter how difficult something is, or no matter how horrible I feel, it's not going to last forever. That makes it so much easier for me to get through things, and to not let them overwhelm me.
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