“Strife” means “vigorous or bitter conflict, discord and antagonism; to quarrel, struggle or clash; competition; rivalry.”
James 3:14-16 tells us clearly, “If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (KJV).
Strife is devilish. It opens the door for the enemy to bring confusion and evil into our lives. Love, on the other hand, is the source of power for any successful relationship. Galatians 5:6 even tells us that our faith works through love.
Satan is continuously sending situations our way to tempt us to yield to the opposite of love, which is selfishness.
During this season of love we can study God’s Word and learn what authentic love is and what it is not. First Corinthians 13 reveals its attributes: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (vv. 4-8, NKJV).
So make a decision to keep strife out of every relationship and keep love in. At home, work, school and church, commit to walk in love. If at any moment you slip up and get into strife, simply make it right.
Say to the other person: “Please forgive me. I love you. I don’t want to be in strife with you.”
Then say to the Lord: “Father, I repent of that attitude. I refuse to yield to strife or to any enemy of love. I choose to walk in love.”
Keep acting on what you know about love from God’s Word. Walk in love. When you do, you will keep your faith strong and the blessings of God will be continually evident to everyone … for love never fails! Don’t let strife ruin your Valentine’s Day.
Gloria Copeland is co-founder and vice president of Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Fort Worth, Texas.
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