Let's look at an important key to getting rid of strife: "The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out" (Prov. 17:14 AMP).

You will never have a happy home if you don't resist strife. You see, Satan wants to stop your faith from working, so he'll try to slip in the back way and trick you into opening the door of your life to him.

Getting you into strife gives him a way in. Strife may seem to start out small. But really there is no such thing as insignificant strife. Strife left unchecked will flood your life like a ugly torrent.

The enemy likes to bring you an opportunity to get into a conflict with someone, because he knows that the moment you step into strife, he can gain mastery over you. He uses strife to interrupt the flow of love in your life.

And once he's gotten you out of love, then he can cancel out your faith because faith works by love (Gal. 5:6). Love is our commandment. Jesus said, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12).

So if you want to walk in the power and blessing of God, don't open the door to the devil through strife. You have to make up your mind, I am putting strife out of my house and out of my life!

This is the way you do it: At the very first hint of strife, stop it. Don't let someone else pull you into an argument. Instead, walk in love and forgiveness and stop contention before it becomes worse (Prov. 17:14 AMP).

It takes two people to get into strife, and you can decide not to get into it! You don't have to fit the description of the person in Proverbs: "He who loves strife and is quarrelsome loves transgression and involves himself in guilt..." (Prov. 17:19 AMP).

So when you recognize a situation that sparks feelings of aggravation, jealousy or strife within you, just look at that situation through the eyes of God and talk to it. Say, "I refuse to allow this situation to bring strife into my life. I yield to the forces of love and joy within me."

Stop Strife in the Home
Proverbs 17:1 gives more insight into the danger of strife in your home: "Better is a dry morsel with quietness than a house full of feasting [on offered sacrifices] with strife" (Prov. 17:1 AMP).

The home is one of Satan's biggest targets. He continually tries to disrupt families by causing strife and division in their homes.

Your family is a powerful force for God when you're all in agreement with one another. That's why it's so important to stay out of strife and walk in love at home.

Oddly enough, home is often the most difficult place to be loving! I think the reason for that is we don't have our guard up when we're at home. We're not worried about our reputation. We're not trying to impress anyone. At home, we relax and nothing stops us from being selfish except our commitment to walk in the love of God.

But don't be fooled into thinking that it doesn't matter how you act at home. It matters a great deal. In fact, years ago the Lord said this to me, "If you allow Satan to stop you with strife at your front door, you'll be no threat to him anywhere else."

A Quality Decision To Stay Out of Strife
When Ken and I first received the revelation of the danger of strife, we realized that if we wanted to walk in the full measure of God's blessings, we would have to stay out of strife. We wouldn't be able to argue with people or fight back when people criticized us or wronged us. We'd have to respond in love.

So we made up our minds to put strife out of our family. We made up our minds to keep it out of our ministry. We absolutely refused to operate in strife. And we determined that if we did mess up and exchange harsh words, we would be quick to repent and keep the devil from gaining a foothold in our lives.

If you want to walk in God's wisdom and keep the door of your life closed to the devil, that's the kind of decision you'll have to make, too. So guard diligently against strife. Make the commitment to keep strife out of your life. See to it that your prayers prevail by staying in harmony with your family members as well as others.

The moment you slip up and get into strife, make it right. Go to the other person and say, "Please forgive me. I love you. I don't want to be in strife with you." Then tell the Lord, "Father, I repent of strife. I refuse to be a person of strife. I choose to walk in love."

You may have to repent quite a bit at first if you've developed habits that must be changed. But don't get disgusted with yourself and give up. Just keep acting on the Word. Stop strife - and yield to love!

The love of God has been shed abroad in your heart, by the Holy Spirit. You are born of God to walk in His love.

Excerpt permission granted by
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka:  Kenneth Copeland Ministries