Spiritual Warfare: 'Avoid People Who Cause Divisions'

God's Power for Our Battles — Wednesday, July 30, 2025

I urge you, my friends: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have received. Keep away from them! For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.
— Romans 16:17-18 GNT

Today's Prayer

Lord, help me to recognize conversations and individuals that cause division among Your people and separate myself from that sort of unwholesome talk and activity. Don’t let me be sucked into complicated schemes that sound like they will help things when they actually will make things worse. In fact, when this arises around me, Lord, help me to say whatever would best diffuse their anger and slander. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

Problem People
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Precious One, Yesterday's note focused on valuing each person in the Father's family. There are, however, some in the family who seem to be..."
Blessings of the Faithful
Devo: Praying with Paul
"Dear Father, my strength, I bless you for the multitudes of believing people who have gone before me, for those named in the Bible whose examples of...."
Willing to Die on This Mountain
Article by Phil Ware
What are the mountains you would die on for what you believe and what you are called to do? Phil Ware talks about finding our theological and missional mountains and how important it is to know them if you are going to call a minister with whom to partner.

Illustration

Illustration of Romans 16:17-18 GNT — I urge you, my friends: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have received. Keep away from them! For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, July 30, 2025

What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Boils Down to Love' (Mt. 22:39-40)
"[After Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God, he continued:] "A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The....."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'The Storm Died Down' (Ps. 107:28-31)
"You called out to GOD in your desperate condition... He quieted the wind down to a whisper, put a muzzle on all the big waves. And you were so glad..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Passion and Truth in Praise'
"Dear Beloved, Today you will read two powerful passages of praise. The first one is from Paul's letter to the Colossians. The second is from Paul's....."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Changing Paul's Mission' (Acts 22:17-21)
"[Emphasizing what Jesus called him to do after his conversion, Paul continued his defense to the Jewish attackers who thought he took a Gentile into...."

About This Devotional

Spiritual Warfare is a daily devotional about God's power for our battles.

The Prayer for Spiritual Warfare is written by Steve Hemphill.

More Spiritual Warfare