Jealous-Get Help From God.

 “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One definition for jealous in Merriam Webster dictionary is disposed to suspect rivalry or unfaithfulness. Definitely not a fruit of the spirit and an emotion stirred up by the enemy to try to make you dissatisfied and unhappy.

Do you have or have you had envy or resentment when someone gets picked over you for a position, honor, or award? It is necessary to combat feelings of jealousy with joy and gratitude.

If and when you find the jealous monster rearing its ugly head stop and give thanks that will shut the demons of darkness up for sure.

PRAYER: I need you all the time Lord. When I start to feel left out or overlooked help me stop and be still and give thanks. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Unmet Expectations And Comparisons

Don’t compare yourself with others. Just look at your own work to see if you have done anything to be proud of. You must each accept the responsibilities that are yours.Galatians 6:4-5NIV Bible Gateway 

One of the problems with Facebook and other social media it puts the best foot forward and makes you feel you are inadequate if you are not measuring up to some hypothetical standard on vacations, birthdays, anniversaries.Compare yourself only to God. 

Why is it necessary to flaunt our personal feelings on social media?  I feel bad for children growing up in this generation with the form of communication that many times does not even speak face to face and feels bad when their life doesn’t look exciting.

Social media can be good to share about Jesus but why do we think everyone needs to know everything. I am talking to myself here too. Why not keep track in 2024 of how much time is wasted on social media and even try leaving your phone at home occasionally. How on earth did we ever survive doing that before, but we did. How much time will you devote to getting closer to God in 2024, not by Sunday church but on your own. Ponder that. If you need suggestions I can give you some. 

PRAYER: Lord I thank you so much for your patience with me and my shortcomings. Help me to treat others around me well even if they are not nice to me. Give me strength to back off social media too. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

#BG2

Green Eyed Monster

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

Jealousy stinks and should have no place in a believers life yet it is so easy to fall into. It is because the enemy likes division and he gets people comparing and feeling left out. 

It could be various scenarios such as envy of someone’s life and what they own. It could be between in-laws comparing time they get to spend with grown children and grandchildren. It could be trying to read someone’s mind and overreacting to something that is not even real. Possibly a family member seems to have it better than you and you covet their life. Another person has a better job and you feel your life is measly in comparison. Jealousy and comparison are carnal reactions from the bowels of Hell. 

Replace the urge to feel jealous with gratitude, love, joy, peace, mercy, grace, and your life will be much better. Understand Satan comes to tear people’s lives apart and when you start to feel jealous of another stop right then and ask God to show you love instead and say “Satan get away from my mind and heart in Jesus name”. Now go be happy for the person you seemingly were envious of. 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I am indeed grateful for what I have and where I am in life. I ask forgiveness for the times I have overreacted and acted jealous and even verbalized it to another. Help me Lord to always be grateful and to show love to those I would tend to be jealous of. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Monsters Within Us

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

As much as you might try to tame it the jealousy monster inside of you sometimes it rears its' ugly head. Jealous of a persons' status or title. Perhaps jealous someone got promoted over you. Maybe it is jealousy between siblings feeling like their parents are favoring one child over another. It could be jealous that one grandparent gets to see the grand baby more than them. Perhaps you are jealous of another person's freedom. Maybe you are jealous of another's lifestyle and possessions. I am sure you could add to the list. 

The bottom line is simple. Stop it! All that stuff is not from the Lord. He didn't create you to be like that. It is the enemy, Satan, who attempts to divide and conquer and jealousy is one of his key tools. Don't allow it in your life. If you struggle with it now confess it to God and ask Him to create in you a different heart that isn't like that. It clouds your thinking and makes you say things you don't mean. 

Be grateful for where you are in life and what you have. Get rid of all those earthly sand bags weighing you down and keeping you from enjoying the life Christ intended you to. When you feel jealous stop right there and pray and ask God to break that stronghold in your life. 

PRAYER: Oh Father I don't like the feeling of being jealous. It creates anger, hatred, division and it simply not your choice for me. I ask you to help me rebuke the attempts by Satan to make me slip onto that mode. In Jesus' name. Amen.

And That's Okay!

Now  there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Do you catch yourself trying to be like others in many ways? Maybe you say you have left those high school 'every be alike days' behind but in fact, you still deep down, feel like you have to be a certain way or fit a certain mold. Maybe you worry about your house, your talents, your skills. 

This feeling could crop up in the way you study the Bible. I know sometimes I have a hard time sticking with a certain method and feel undisciplined, but in fact, maybe people study in different ways because the Holy Spirit is directing your steps in a different way. Perhaps you get concerned that your life is not like someone else's. God has each of us on a unique journey and it is only the enemy that attempts to make you feel inadequate. 

So right now today make up your mind to give thanks to God for how you are, where you are, what you are able to do and stop being concerned you have to be like every other person or feeling not good enough. Rejoice you are a wonderful creation of God. He does not make mistakes. 

PRAYER: Forgive me Lord when I have allowed the enemy to make me discontent or make me wish I was someone else or could do certain things. Help me embrace just who I am and where I am in life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Just Me And God

A heart at peace gives life to the body,but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30

I recently published my first ever devotion book. It was a longtime dream to do this being first put in my heart when I was in my early 20's. I finally got there but not the traditional way with a contract and advance checks but doing it through the self publishing or indy publishing way. Comparing is one big detriment in the publishing world but in any world. Seeing others accomplish something faster or getting a contract and an agent as opposed to the way of stepping out independently with just you and God. 

Do you beat yourself up when you look at what others do and think what you do does not matter? Each person has gifts and abilities. Just because one person went to college or graduate school does not mean God looks at them any different. Our government in the US these past 7 years has tried to instill jealously and envy in the populace by creating a scenario of wealth redistribution making the lower class economically feel jealous of those who prosper. If you do this, stop it. That is NOT from God. 

Be grateful for every blessing God gives you. Stop looking at others and feeling you are somehow less or start to envy the other person. Rejoice with others in their accomplishments and know like it says in 1 Peter 5:6 'Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."

PRAYER: Lord you are good and your mercies are new every morning it says in scripture and indeed how true that is. Forgive me if I have ever been less than grateful for the things you do in my life. You have wonderful plans for me and I thank you ahead of time for how you work in my life. Use me in the lives of others to accomplish your purposes. In Jesus' name. Amen.