But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (James 1:6-8)
Dear Sisters,
Not too long ago someone close to me asked me to take on job that would compete with my obligation to my first client. She was a little disappointed that I denied her, but I knew the opportunity to work with her, though great, would later prove to be a conflict of interest. Where there’s a conflict of interest, you will find two visions. Where there are two visions, you will find division. And where there is division, there will soon follow a fall.
If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Mark 3:25
As we prepare to move into the new year, many of us are making vision boards, stating new declarations over our life, and preparing to try new things. However, one thing I have found to be true is that vision boards are not fulfilled when they are created or pursued out of division. What does this mean? Division is defined as double or competing vision (double-minded). Therefore, if you have created a vision that is partially your vision and partially God’s vision, the vision is DIVIDED.
The other side of this is when we pursue vision from a divided heart. In other words, when we know what God has called us to do but our hearts are divided in the pursuit. For example, I know that God has called me to speak but fear often convinces me that I am not. That causes division in my heart. One part of me believes God while the other part of me believes fear. At that point, fear has become a conflict of interest.
Many of us struggle with division, or double-mindedness. Some signs of division may include starting and stopping projects or struggling with consistency in different areas of our life. This is a result of faith and fear working together. When we allow faith and fear (or faith and doubt) to operate under the same roof, we have a conflict of interest. Both will compete for our attention. Therefore, causing an up and down pursuit to our call.
Here are some steps to identify and combat your double visions:
Accept your identity in Christ. You are righteous, holy, and saved by grace. This is not to say that you are without sin. It is more of a statement of accountability. When we accept the identity of a sinner, we often neglect our responsibility to do what’s right. Too often we excuse wrongdoings with the notion that everyone sins and no one is perfect. But God wants us to strive for perfection. Not the world’s standard of perfection. This has nothing to do with being the perfect body type or having the picture perfect life. God wants us to operate out of perfect love for Him, ourselves, and others. He wants us to pursue doing what’s right every single day. If you are conflicted in your identity in Christ, you will always be insecure about your call.
Stop repeating old narratives about who you once were in a way that defines who you are now. If you continue to live in that broken place, you are now allowing the brokenness to be a conflict of interest for your healing. Tell your story in a way that glorifies God. Every story has a past, present, and future. Allow yourself the ability to live in the now (new you) and move by faith to your future while sharing the testimony of the transformation of the past you.
There is no such thing as a frenemy. If you see someone as a friend and enemy at the same time you are just looking at a relationship that hasn’t failed YET. If you have forgiven someone, ask God to help you not have DI-VISION towards them. If you continue to see them as friend AND enemy the relationship or friendship will fall.
Do not force what you want to see over what God has revealed. This applies to relationships, careers, ideas, dreams, and everything in between.
SPEAK the truth over every aspect of your life. Speak it and live according to the truth no matter how hard it seems at times. The greatest form of division is our ability to know the truth of God and continue to believe the lies of the enemy. A lie will always be a conflict of interest to what God has called you to do.
Be consistent. When inconsistency creeps into your life ask yourself if it is God telling you to end a particular season or if you’re beginning to allow double-mindedness to govern you.
Challenge:
During your 8 days in your secret place, I challenge you to seek what may be causing division in your faith. Those things, thoughts, people, and even ideas that cause division in your faith are now a conflict of interest to your purpose. They are competing with your ability to please God. The Bible says, “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). List those things and pray for God to unify your thoughts in Him.
That’s all for today. I pray that this devotional encourages and prepares you for the next season of your life. We will continue 8 Days in My Secret Place tomorrow. Please email us with any testimonials that you have during this time.
For those of you who are new to this here are the rules of engagement:
For the last 8 days of December commit at least 30 minutes of prayer and study time in your secret place.
Document your daily revelations in your prayer journal.
Do something you love every day for the last 8 days.
Check your emails for daily devotionals from Tabitha’s TEA Party.
Happy Seeking!