This is the third day we've spent spring cleaning, seeking to get strife out of our heart and home. It's hard work, I know, but well worth the effort.
There are 3 main Greek words for the word "strife," and in studying them, I noticed 3 main foundational issues, leading to 3 main outward manifestations. Perhaps you will see yourself in one of them, and if you are a parent, perhaps you'll see your child in one of them. Take care of the foundational issue/tendency/bent, and the outward manifestation will be taken care of, as well.
1) Tendency toward disobedience leads to the outward manifestation of disputes.
2) Tendency toward intrigue/drama leads to the outward manifestation of factions.
3) Tendency toward disputing about trifles leads to fighting battles.
If any of those struck a chord with you, pay attention to what God's Word has to say about them and how to solve the problem.
Philippians 2:3 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Romans 13:13 encourages us to "behave decently,...not in dissension and jealousy." Anyone who is a follower of Jesus is His servant/worker, and II Timothy 2:24 says that "The Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful."
Remember the old saying, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"? Excellent advice! Does your family have a Life Quote? If not, and your home tends to see (and hear) strife, why not adopt this one: "Love is fluently spoken here."
Proverbs 10:12b [NIV]
"...love covers over all wrongs."
What this has to do with weight loss: Each of us will "blow it" on this weight-loss journey, probably more than once. We may cause someone else to feel pain, due to our reactions to our own inner struggles, as a result of our weight or diet issues. At those times, let us remember that "love covers over all wrongs." Love yourself and love others. Let love guide your life, and your failures will be few.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, it is my heartfelt desire to clean out my heart and home of strife, in all its forms, and to do it today. I need Your help, though, Lord, for only You can give me the strength needed to do so. Fill my heart and home with Your Love, so that there's no room for anything else that shouldn't be there. Where there is strife, let me sow love. May love become the very foundation of our home, and it will be...when we allow You to be the Head of our home. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, letting love guide your life.
The S.T.A.R.T. Program (Strategies To Achieve Recovery & Transformation) CD, produced especially for the bariatric patient, is available at http://www.cdeanhall.com/products.html. Check out the sound bite for each track.
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