God puts us in relationships with all kinds of people. We think differently, and we have different personalities, interests, and ideas. God made us that way on purpose. And although everyone is not …
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God puts us in relationships with all kinds of people. We think differently, and we have different personalities, interests, and ideas. God made us that way on purpose. And although everyone is not like us, He still wants us all to get along.
I love what the apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:2 (AMPC): “Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention.”
To put this verse in perspective, Paul was dealing with people who seemed to be in continual disagreement. If you’ve raised two or more children, I’m sure you know exactly what he’s talking about. Sometimes you’d give anything for a little peace and quiet!
Oddly, the people we usually disagree with the most are the ones we care the most about―our spouses, family members, close friends, and coworkers. And if we’re asking God to bring healing into any of those relationships or make them better, we need to partner with Him to make it happen.
We need to learn how to control our emotions and stay out of strife. Strife is an old-fashioned word for bickering, arguing, or a heated disagreement, and it carries an angry undercurrent.
Have you ever been around someone who’s pretending everything’s okay, but you can tell that on the inside they’re seething with anger? Have you ever been that person?
Think about it. How long do you stay mad when someone mistreats you? How easy is it for you to get frustrated with someone? When you have a disagreement, do you have the need to always be right?
Strife is extremely dangerous. It can destroy marriages, families, relationships, and even churches. If it isn’t stopped, it will continue to go from person to person, causing all kinds of problems and unnecessary pain.
For more on this topic, order Joyce’s three-part teaching resource Do Unto Others. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org
Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 140 books, including BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND and OVERCOMING EVERY PROBLEM (FaithWords). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org
Please note: The views and opinions expressed throughout this publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries.