Strife Is Caused by Trying Instead of Trusting
Adapted from Mornings with God
What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask.
Strife happens when people bicker, argue, or engage in heated disagreement. It is an angry undercurrent that runs through relationships and situations, and our world is filled with it. Strife ultimately causes the destruction of many relationships.
In our ministry, we have a staff pastor who handles conflict resolution. If strife exists in any of our departments or between any of our employees, he works with them to resolve it. If it is not resolved, eventually they won’t be able to work for us because we know that God’s anointing (presence and power) abides where there is peace.
Instead of getting angry when you don’t get what you want, pray. I love the part of today’s scripture that simply says, “You do not have, because you do not ask.” This is so simple yet so powerful. God can do in a moment what we could not do in a lifetime.
Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me seek peace in conflicts, trust You to resolve strife, and bring Your anointing into every situation.
