On Life at Home

will be enriched. “
So when situations come, and
they will, that give us the opportunity
to stir up strife we must put
our trust in God by giving the situation
to Him, and in doing that
we will be satisfied. I believe
that when we are satisfied in our
soul and in our spirit by entrusting
what is troubling unto God
we will receive that satisfying
peace. Knowing that we have
given it to the One who knows all
things including what is best for
us and have not fallen into the
trap of strife.
Galatians 5:19-21 is one of the
first verses that was presented
and I believe the one that will
really make people think twice
about willingly allowing strife to
reign and rule supreme in their
lives. It says that people that
have it in their lives, amongst
other things, will not inherit the
Kingdom of God. Now I know
this has been mentioned several
times but I think it is important
enough to be mentioned a
lot more! The opposite of not
inheriting the Kingdom of God is
inheriting the Kingdom of God.
And the way to do that as it pertains
to strife in that chapter is to
do the opposite of strife which
is harmony. Merriam Webster’s
Dictionary defines harmony as
tranquility and on accord with
one another. I also believe that
the opposite of strife is peace.
For centuries people have tried
to attain peace in our country
and in our world with little success.
I am a firm believer that
whatever needs to be changed
in society, it has to start in the
home. Sometimes home can
be the most volatile place where
you are challenged at every turn.
Not just with the kids but also
with your spouse. In a world that
is enamored with this sin, how
do we keep it out of our children,
out of our homes, and out of
marriages?
1. Ask for it to be removed. We
must remember that God understands
how difficult it is to fight
these battles. He warns us that
we will have them but He does
not leave us defenseless against
them. 1 Peter 4:12 says,
“Beloved, think it not strange
concerning the fiery trial which
is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened unto
you…”
Trials will come. We will be
tested. In my walk with Christ
I have experienced that the
very thing that I struggle with
becomes more intense one I
determine it in my heart that I
am going to fight it. That I am
no longer going to be held captive
to a sin that is vexing me
and wreaking havoc in my life
and as soon as I make that decision,
that’s when the trials come
and the real work begins. Do not
think it’s strange. Truly living for
God is work! Work on the inside
and work on the out. But nothing
worth having is easy. And the
value, the growth, the change is
found through the trial. Do not
give up! Pray and ask the Lord to
remove the desire for strife from
you, from your household, from
your marriage, from your church,
from your job, from wherever it
may dwell. You don’t have to
accept it! Recognize it for what
it is and ask the Lord to cast it
out and then tell it where to go.
We have the authority to do this
according to His Word!
2. Believe that it is gone. Another
thing that I have noticed in my
walk with the Lord is that when
you start to believe God for
something, things start to look
like it is not going to happen.
The key is to not give up and
to not doubt. James 1:6 tells
us that when we ask, we must
believe and not doubt! We do
not want to be like the second
part of this verse which states
that those who doubt are like a
wave of sea, blown and tossed
by the wind. Meaning that we
are turned quickly. When things
are going our way, we believe,
when they are not we doubt. We
must stand and believe and trust
that the One who wipes away our
sins will deliver us out of strife!
God knows our hearts! Works
will not get us into heaven. He
knows our desires, so do not
allow the enemy to speak into
your mind and make you believe
that if you mess up, it’s over. It’s
not over-you are changing and
growing and increasing your
faith by fighting. Believe that it is
gone in Jesus name and watch
the manifestation take place!
3. Fight it with the Word of God.
Yes, we pray and God will do His
part, but we have to do our part
too. Christianity is not a dead
belief system. It is alive and it
requires action!! Ephesians
6:10-17 (Amplified) tells us how
to equip ourselves for battle-and
this battle is no different. It says,
“In conclusion, be strong in the
Lord [be empowered through
your union with Him]; draw your
strength from Him [that strength
which His boundless might provides].
Put on God’s whole armor
[the armor of a heavy-armed soldier
which God supplies], that