Source of Strife

Our life group is engaged in a dynamic Bible study about prayer.  Over the past week, the focus has been about the locks that hinder prayer and keys to open up the lines of communication with our Heavenly Father.

One of the hindrances to prayer involves relationships with those closest to us...husband/wife..parents/children. While there were many important points brought out regarding how we should treat each other, we discovered that it is important to understand that when there is strife, disagreement, discord...the underlying issue is self...self-seeking, self-centeredness and selfishness.  When one tries to put self first, attempts to control or manipulate another...the door is open to allow the enemy access and confusion will reign.  

It isn't realistic to think that everyone will agree on everything all the time...it is the way we deal with differences that is the key to maintaining peace.  If we honor each other, seeing one another as God does and recognizing that we don't all see things from the same perspective, we are in a better position to resolve conflict.  If you take a hard look at the last quarrel you had with someone...chances are good that "self" was involved.  The enemy gains ground when we allow self to rule...and as a result, can lock the door to effective prayer until peace is restored.  

Kick strife out of your life...check your own motives when contentions arise...honor your spouse and children, listen with a heart that seeks to please God!  Be quick to seek forgiveness if you've put self first and quick to forgive each other when the enemy has tried to gain a foothold by stirring up strife.  Remember, your spouse or child is not the enemy, but the enemy can use greed,  envy, selfishness and selfcenteredness to  cause issues that can be resolved if we will target the source of the problem by recognizing the true source.  Don't allow the enemy any place in your house..resolve to honor each other and work out differences in a way that will please God and keep your prayer line wide open!

“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

James 3:16-18 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/jas.3.16-18.nkjv