Do you remember being in school and there being a kid that always had the "cooler" stuff? Better backpack, the bigger Crayola Crayon set, or better brand clothes. You would immediately become jealous or feel less than because you didn't have what they had.
I do! We've all been there. Jealousy has been around since Cain and Abel. That desire to have something of another's.
All throughout my years in public school, I remember how differently other girls were treated compared to me just because of what I had to offer on the outside. She was a cheerleader, automatically cooler. She had a Coach purse, automatically cooler. And we see it throughout the social spheres.
In school, it's your sport and popularity.
In work, it's your position and your pay wage.
In church, it's your public title and how hard you worship.
It has become our human nature to compare. And when we compare we are also measuring our own self. We think that our value is measured by the outside things. So we start competing.
Hoping that at some point we will match up and be seen just like that other person.
Before we know it, we are caught up in this game and have adopted an unhealthy mindset.
And now this person who really never did anything to you is suddenly the bad guy in your eyes. Everything they receive you critique in order to make yourself feel better. That's what jealousy does to us.
Like most things, if we aren't careful as we grow, it grows with us. So that jealousy that seemed small as a kid has now become an adult itself so to speak. And we tend to forget that what happens in the natural also happens in the spiritual.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone receives a word or a blessing, and instead of rejoicing with them, you question? You think to yourself, "Why didn't I get that word or blessing? I've been faithful." You become so fixated on them and their gift.
The danger of that is when we become fixated on someone else's blessing we take our eyes off the blessing God is trying to give us.
That is exactly what the enemy wants. He wants us to miss the things God has for us.
2 Corinthians 13:11 tells us, "Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, and live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."
Proverbs 27: 4 says, "We're blasted by anger and swamped by rage, but who can survive jealousy?"
(MSG)
King Solomon described jealousy to be as cruel as the grave. He understood the power it has. I think it is important for us as well to understand the magnitude that stronghold can have on our mind and spirit.
So how do we deal with jealousy?
1: Identify
Ask yourself, "Why do I hold envy towards this person?"
It could stem from fear, pride, or low self-esteem.
In order to remove a problem, you have to find the root. Just like when you pull weeds from a garden. You want to remove the roots so they can not grow back.
2: Understanding and Revelation
Next, begin to pray and ask God for a deeper understanding and revelation. Let God reveal to you, who you truly are. A child of the King. He will show you all that is his, is yours too. You just have to ask and be patient. But your blessing is coming and is curated just for you.
3: Application
The understanding and revelation may start in your secret place with God but it now has to be applied to your flesh. Prayer does not make our weakness go away. It only magnifies our strength so we can tear down our strongholds. Next time you catch the spirit of jealousy, begin to pray or quote scripture. The less you allow that spirit liberty in your mind the less it will come knocking.
I understand that waiting is often hard. I have learned from personal experience that when my spirit is wrong, the time for my blessing feels longer to receive because I am focused on things that are not of God. But when I direct my thoughts on him and what makes him proud, the waiting for my blessing does not feel so miserable anymore.
And it may feel challenging at the beginning because it is like building muscle. The change in weight is difficult at first but over time it becomes lighter and lighter.
We have all faced jealousy before. But that does not mean we have to allow it to control our spirit. As children of God, we should rejoice when one rejoices. Weep when another is weeping. Everyone's blessing looks different because every child is different. God desires us to love and encourage one another because if we are not careful we can miss out on the celebration in the Kingdom of God.
Above all, he wants to love and bless us individually.
And through our individual blessings, we then can bless others too!
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