These four secrets will eliminate “strife in your life.”

You know how it is:  the awkwardness of tension, comments, and verbal jabs that the turn into arguments, anger, and even fighting.

It’s called “strife.”

Don’t live with it.  

In Genesis, Abraham’s herdsmen were engaged in strife with his nephew Lot’s herdsmen over pasture and water rights.

“Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no STRIFE between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are brothers” (Gen. 13:8).

He gave Lot the best land, and he took the rocky land.

Here are four ways to help you overcome strife:

1. Live with less.

A lot of strife occurs over money and possessions.  We want to come out “on top” of every deal.

Lot “won the argument” but ended up living in Sodom.  He ultimately lost his family, home, and wealth when God’s judgment fire incinerated Sodom.

Abraham may not have had pastureland quite as beautiful, but at least he had peace, rest, and no strife!

Sometimes, “living with less” is MORE.

2.  Hear people out.

I have learned that strife is perpetuated because people don’t feel “heard.”

I must learn to be “quick to hear and slow to speak” (James 1:19).

The longer I can listen (instead of replying), the less chance strife has of remaining.  Being silent for a while may be painful but it will be productive.  

When you finally speak, let them know you have heard them.  

Apologize if necessary, then give your insight into how you think the strife can be ended.

3.  Have “zero tolerance” for strife.

Strife can hang around like a bad cold.  Left untreated, it could turn into more severe issues.

Don’t play around with strife. Refuse to allow it into your life and family. 

Strife is even called demonic (James 3:15).  Satan’s primary work is to promote strife between people, families, races, nations, and even denominations.

Refuse strife.  Treat it like a plague, like the world did when Covid-19 was running rampant and killing thousands.  

 4. Ask for heavenly wisdom to remove strife.

Years ago, I memorized this verse as a pastor and used it when dealing with strife in the congregation:

“But the wisdom FROM ABOVE  is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3: 17)

Carefully go over each of those eight words.  They are the “wisdom from above.”  If you ask God to give you each of those eight qualities before a difficult conversation with a problematic person, He will do it!  

Strife will be defeated, and peace and harmony will return to relationships.

People are not your enemy. Satan, who sows the “seeds of strife,” is the enemy.

Let’s believe that in 2024 our homes, families, and workplaces will be a “strife-free zone!”