THE LIFESTYLE OF STRIFE AND BITTERNESS
By DIGC21 October 2020
Focus is distracted where strife is established.
SCRIPTURE: And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. Genesis 26:20.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Focus is distracted where strife is established.
The lifestyle of strife and bitterness is a deadly enemy of destiny. Another word for strife or bitterness is competitive jealousy. The lifestyle of strife finished people like Lot and Absalom in the Bible. Lot began to compete with his uncle, Abraham, who brought him out from Haran. Absalom strove with David, his father. Both Lot and Absalom ended in disaster and tragedy.
Please take note of the following key thoughts:
a. Progress is arrested where strife is manifested (Gen. 13:17)
You will stop moving forward in life the moment you agree to strive with someone.
b. Focus is distracted where strife is established (Gen. 13:14).
Whenever you agree to strive with someone, your focus is taken away from where you are going in life. When you agree to strive, another person becomes your focus. Strife makes another person’s success your focus. Focus is distracted where strife is established.
c. The presence of strife equals the presence of hate.
The presence of strife is the presence of hate, and the presence of hate is the absence of God. So, any man that is in strife, hate, or competitive jealousy has eliminated God from his life. This is because God is love (1 John 4:8), and love can never be where hate or strife is.
Beloved, deliver yourself from strife. Strife is a killer of joy, and joy is necessary for destiny.
Remember this: Focus is distracted where strife is established.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Refuse to strive with your Maker or your fellow human being.
- Don’t allow anyone drag you into competition and rivalry.
- Fix your focus on God and His purpose for your life.
PRAYER: Thank You Lord for showing me the dangers of strife. Deliver me, Lord from strife. I receive Your grace to fix my gaze on You and not to strive with anyone, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: DEADLY ENEMIES OF DESTINY (PART 2)
QUOTE: Love had turned to pure hatred; forgiveness had given way to vengeance and joy to bitterness. Culled from “AM I BITTER?” by Dr Becky Enenche.
DAILY READING: Luke 1-3.
AMAZING FACT: White-tailed jackrabbits are the greatest land jumpers, having been recorded leaping an astonishing 21ft (6.4m) vertically. That’s higher than 3 average sized men all stood on top of each other. This large species of hare can also run up to 35mph (55kph) when escaping predators.
PROPHETIC DECLARATION/WORD: I decree your deliverance from every trace of strife in your life today in Jesus’ Name.
