We live in an angry world filled with strife and bitter conflicts. The contention and hostility we see all around us is the work of the devil, who subtly oppresses us by using strife. The bitterness strife causes can destroy relationships, marriages, businesses, and churches before people even know what’s happening. This isn’t in God’s plans for us; therefore, it’s absolutely essential that we resist it.

God takes a dim view of this evil spirit; He calls quarrelsome people fools and adds that it is honorable for a man to cease from strife. In our daily relationships, we must be mindful of our motives. Pride and petty jealousies can affect our thinking if we’re not careful. When envy and strife enter in, they bring along confusion and every evil work; we fight back against these emotional attacks by remembering that God isn’t the author of confusion, but of peace.

Strife arises from a proud, self-centered heart; we can’t walk in love if we’re operating in strife. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. Strife is dispatched directly from Satan to steal our peace and keep us in emotional and spiritual bondage. When anger starts to take us to a place we don’t want to be, we need to be alert to what we’re feeling inside and remember that nothing is worth losing our peace over.

An angry person stirs up strife and a furious man abounds in transgressions. God wants to bless us and show us His favor; diffusing the spirit of anger allows His blessings to work in our lives. We are engaged in spiritual warfare against an enemy who uses intense, never-ending anger as a destructive weapon. Knowing what’s going on in this area gives us the ability to use God’s grace to defeat that enemy and reclaim our peace.

Prayer:

Lord, Your Word warns us against getting caught in a painful cycle of anger, contention, and strife. Using it as a shield keeps us out of spiritual danger. Thank You for giving us what we need to defeat the enemy. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

Proverbs 20:3, AMPC

James 3:16

1 Corinthians 14:33

Proverbs 10:12

Proverbs 29:22