Strife & Offense

After saying how things were going so great and how I've been able to not feel pulled down to distracting problems, saying that I've been feeling kind of numb lately to many of these daily problems lately blah, blah, blah....well this is what I get for boasting. This week I found out just how numb I am not. Its been a very hard week and I actually feel I got slammed pretty hard affecting both my physical and mental (emotional). My patience and suffering was strained this week when I experienced a misunderstanding at work. Something was said that was accusatory and hurt my feelings.


I am very fond of my co-worker/friend. We've been through a lot together in a very short time and I've actually come out of my comfort zone to risk sharing the good news with her as we've been building our friendship.


I believe there is actually an outside source stirring up strife. In reality people can be influenced so easily and that is why God tells us to guard our hearts. Phillipians 4:6 we are instructed to never worry about anything but instead, in every situation we are to bring our petitions and requests to God through prayer combined with thanksgiving; Phillipians 4:7 Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts (our hearts) and emotions (and minds) through Christ Jesus. This peace will keep us from sinking under the weight of these anxious troubling moments in our lives, keeping us calm with inward peace that confidence that makes us at peace and satisfied. One reason is because we as Believers in Christ are to get and keep a good name (a good reputation); a name for good things with God and good men.


I know the actual one behind the accusation is really the dark Accuser (Rev 12:10). Really the devil tries to thwart God's plan and put a wedge between us and God and between us and mankind, especially when we are interceding for a lost soul. Other people, you've known a few I'm sure, are often manipulated by outside forces and they themselves do not recognize their own influence and attempts to manipulate other people. I know of one particular person who may be involved in my situation as an outside influence. This is why God cautions us to guard our hearts because our peace and our reputation is at stake here. I need to remember that strife and division is a tactic the devil pulls out to bring us down to his level instead of living the Word of God. Interestingly this morning, God impressed me to meditate on 1 Cor. 13:4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."


Even though my feelings don’t feel like it I know that I am victorious because it is written: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, (not against co-workers or husbands or neighbors) but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12.


Then God instructs us "Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. You need not fight in this battle, station yourselves, stand and see the Salvation of the Lord on your behalf." Then it says, "tomorrow, go out to face them for the Lord is with you." Notice it didn’t say go home and have a pity party for 2 weeks acting like a whipped puppy, it says go out to face it knowing God is with you!!! In other words, ride into battle and by charging in full force you will see the hand of God. Immediately upon experiencing the hurt I felt I needed to humble myself and apologize for the misunderstanding, which I did. I let it be known that how I was being perceived is not my heart's motive and that I have complete confidence in this person to do their job so there is no battle with me. I did feel I needed to go home and remove myself from the heated zone but in my retreat I am turning to God to strengthen me in my inner man so that tomorrow I can go back to work full of love and faith. I will keep myself in prayer through the evening and saturate myself in the word.


We have to remind the devil that he has no right to act toward a child of God and we refuse to accept anything the devil heaps onto us! (Most of the time we just accept it as an unchangeable reality). When he tries to put doubt or discouragement, or fear, or whatever it is that is troubling you and puts things in your mind like, 'I might as well give up...my husband is never going to be a Christian', or 'my financial situation is in ruin and I'll guess I'll always be stuck in debt'. We don't have to listen to him. God said the devil was a liar, in fact, he IS the father of lies.


In John 8:44 it says: "Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies." Also, in 2 Corinthians I0: 3,4,5 it says: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful, for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."


We are fighting a battle in the spiritual realm, and it is very difficult to keep on keeping on when we do not see what we are fighting. But praise God, we do not have to! He tells us in 2 Chronicles 20:15-17, the battle is not ours, it is His! That is why He tells us not to worry, but to trust Him.


So, the next time doubt, fear, or whatever your problem is that comes into your mind, read through the scriptures listed under the Armor and find one that you can identify with, and tell Satan to leave you alone in the name of Jesus! Take control of your mind, by putting God's Word into it, do not let the devil use it against you. God gave you a mind and told you to work out your Salvation.