Daniel Fast Day 18

Day 18 | Daniel Fast Devotional

Philippians 4:2-7 (NLT) Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. 4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

When Christ followers fight, everybody loses. How would you like your name to be mentioned in the Bible, and it is not related to anything good, but with regard to an argument you were having with a fellow believer? I personally think that one of the saddest things within our churches today is this culture of disposability. “I don’t agree, so I leave and I break relationships!” Remember this truth about relationships:  Relationships are the only things that are eternal. The people you try to dismiss and avoid this side of eternity will be unavoidable in eternity. Do you think that your Heavenly Father is going to separate heaven into different parts for different people? Do you think He is going to have people from different denominations in different areas of heaven? Think again!

Where do you think people who are serving the Lord are going to go when they die?
I did not say where you wish for them to go... They are obviously going to go to heaven and so are you. Don’t you think it will be a good thing to learn to get along this side of eternity? It is natural to disagree; it is supernatural to forgive and to reconcile.

Why is it so important to get along? Because God’s work suffers when we don’t. Think about how conflict with others saps our energy, melts our resolve and weakens our witness. Conflict with others drains our joy and disturbs our peace. It limits our potential and it wastes Kingdom opportunities. Why do we continue to allow conflict to separate us and think that the Lord Jesus approves of it?

The root of conflict is selfishness. Why do we fight, why do we argue, why don’t we get along? Because, I want what I want and you want what you want! We insist on the “Burger King Philosophy: Have it your (my) way...” Paul pleads with these two co-workers in Christ to work out their disagreements. He shares how both of them had worked hard and helped him greatly in spreading the good news. Why should we work out our differences? Because we belong to the Lord! Jesus does not fight with Jesus. 

Think about this; even the Devil knows that a divided kingdom is a falling one. Jesus said in Matthew 12:25-26 (NCV),  “Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, so he said to them, ‘Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And any city or family that is divided against itself will not continue. 26 And if Satan forces out himself, then Satan is divided against himself, and his kingdom will not continue.’”

What’s the remedy? First of all, always be full of joy! Joyful people very rarely pick fights, but miserable people do. Secondly, be considerate in all you do. Not just in words or in your heart, but your consideration must be evident to all; meaning, think of others before you think of yourself. Don’t think less of yourself; think less about yourself! Why? Because the Lord is coming. We will have to give an account for how we treated one another. No father celebrates when his children don’t get along and God is our Father.

Thirdly, instead of worrying, pray. Worry causes anxiety; anxiety causes us to act out in fear. There is a better way; ask your Father. Instead of looking to people to meet your needs, pray and tell God what you need. Then His peace will guard your heart and mind  as you keep in step with Christ’s nature and character.

We all have to do the hard work of getting along. It is true that some people are easier to get along with than others. Nevertheless, if we say we are mature, then we must be considerate like Jesus. In your relationships, choose joy, choose consideration, choose prayer and you will have peace! Who do you need to forgive and who do you need to reconcile with? When will you…?

Prayer:
  • Pray that the Lord will deliver you from a spirit of selfishness.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a considerate heart and to help you build a healthy mindset towards others.
  • Pray and release any person that you have ill will towards. Ask the Lord to help you build a healthy pattern of relating to others.
  • Prayer:  Father, thank You for loving me unconditionally even when I don’t deserve it. Help me to think about others the way You think about them. Let me see others the way You see them. Forgive me where I have been inconsiderate and selfish. Forgive me where I have expected others to meet a need only You can. I choose not to worry but to trust You with all of my needs, including all of my relationships. Help my fellow Rock family to work together to build Your kingdom and to have healthy growing relationships. Keep us from foolish and useless disagreements and arguments. Remind us that, in the end, all that matters is how we loved You and loved others. I pray that Your peace will guard my heart and mind as I choose to daily walk in forgiveness and to practice consideration in all I do. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen!

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