In the Christian circle, jealousy is not something you talk about.
Not openly, anyway.
It is preferred to be kept silent, hidden and not expressed to those who might judge you for actually having feelings of jealousy towards another.
Especially, if you claim the title of a Christian.
However, you cannot hide how you feel, even if you tried.
There is that old saying, “Faith over Feelings.”
I agree with that statement, however you cannot run, hide and pretend that your feelings don’t exist.
All that will do is cause you more harm than good.
God knows you are going to have feelings.
Some good feelings and some bad.
There is nothing wrong with having feelings.
It is all part of being human.
What is wrong is when you don’t own up to them and take responsibility for them.
That is the first step.
The next step is to take those unwanted feelings before the Lord.
Be honest with Him.
You are not hiding anything from Him that He doesn’t already know so just confess and talk to Him about them.
Allow Him to heal you from those unwanted feelings and ask Him to show you how to become more confident in who you are in Him
Ask Him to show you ways in which you can drive out these envious thoughts.
You can do this in so many ways.
Some examples are:
• Stay in His Word.
• Pray continually to God.
• Talk to Him like you would your best friend, because He is.
• Never forget the Lord’s great love for you.
• Know that your true identity is in Christ Jesus.
• Put on worship music and praise Him for who He is.
• Lift up your voice and proclaim the great things that He has done and will do for you.
• Know you are uniquely and wonderfully made in God’s own image.
• Stay in a mindful state of gratitude; which will drive out envy.
• Look for ways to celebrate the blessings of others.
• Welcome the simple act of having a giving heart which will free you from thoughts of envy.
• Express how you are feeling with other believers.
• Listen to sound advice from other believers on how you might be able to overcome those feelings of jealousy towards someone else.
If you try to pretend that those feelings are not there, brush them off, condemn yourself for having them, then you are essentially denying your feelings and that can detrimental to your health and emotional well being.
Lets face it, we have all felt jealousy towards another individual at some point in our lives.
We have compared ourselves in so many ways it can be hard to keep track of them all.
If you say that you haven’t felt jealousy or envy toward another, then chances are that you are not being honest with yourself and you are certainly not being honest with God.
I know that as a Christian having feelings of jealousy towards another is not something we want to carry around within our hearts and spirits.
It is a heavy weight and a burden that we want removed, and removed swiftly.
I myself want my attitude to be one of encouragement when I see others; especially other Christians, accomplishing great things in God’s Kingdom work.
I want to stand proud and cheer them on with gladness and purity of heart.
But sometimes, the flesh takes precedence over our emotions and feelings and we just can’t seem to feel in the way we hoped we would.
That is when we need to take it before the Lord.
Even in our shame we can still lay it at His feet.
He will lift it and carry the weight of it for you.
Psalms 55:22 says –“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
This should be a tremendous encouragement to all true Believers.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there!
1 Peter 5:6-7 says –“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Go before the Lord in humility and seek His counsel.
He will not stir you wrongfully.
Trust Him and let him lift your burdens.
Jesus said we could cast all of our cares on him because he cares for us!
There is nothing we are going through that we cannot cast on the Lord.
God cares for what concerns you.
I understand how difficult it can be to avoid the trappings that the enemy so cleverly persuades upon the human heart.
James 4:7 reminds us to –“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Remember Satan was defeated at the cross. He has no authority over Christians.
1 Peter 5:8-9 is a beautiful reminder to –“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
Every true believer has faced or will face the onslaught of the evil one so we must stay mentally self-controlled, awake and watchful at all times.
This battle is not yours, it is the Lords!
Remember in 2 Chronicles 20:15, which plainly states – “…Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
Allow the Lord to fight for you.
If we try to fight the battle on our terms, we will lose; if we fight the battle on His terms, we will win.
Remember beloved, as long as we walk in this fleshly body, we will be tempted.
We will be tempted in mind, body, and in spirit.
Our feelings and emotions are not immune to the devices of Satan.
In fact, that is how he accomplishes the majority of His evil schemes.
Don’t allow shame and condemnation to filtrate into your soul and spirits.
Remember what God’s Holy Word tells us in Romans 8 –“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
But even against all of our greatest efforts, the enemy will faithfully and without any resistance, continually remind us of our past failures, mistakes, and misgivings.
This is done so that we will continue to feel shame, regret, and guilt.
Remember that it is only our sin that is condemned and Jesus has set us free.
Remain steadfast and allow His love, grace and mercy to pour over you each and every day.
This will prevent you from having envious thoughts that will only cloud your mind, heart and spirit.
Give thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit within us to convict us of sin and turn us back to Christ Jesus.
Be not forgetful, Christ already fought the battle and won, and did so at the Cross.
By doing that, the Holy Spirit has guaranteed us victory through Christ.
Pray this Prayer
Dear Lord, We come before You, and ask that you purify our hearts and minds. Remove from our spirits those unwanted thoughts of envy and jealousy. We know that these feelings that so often accompany us along our journey are not pleasing to You. We want desperately to walk with sincerity, love and holiness. Help us, Lord, to uplift, encourage and edify other Christians as they diligently and faithfully go about Your Kingdom work. Strengthen and guard us against the evil one, Lord! Let Your peace and Your Word be our shield of faith that repels us against our unwarranted emotions and feelings of inadequacy. Remind us of who we are in You- beloved and cherished, forgiven and free. Bring your life and peace into each of our days and help us to walk righteously. Empower us to overcome a spirit of jealousy and the condemnation that often stricken us from accomplishing the plans that You have for us. May we forever grow in Your truth, grace, and love. We ask this in Jesus’ precious Name, Amen
In His Love, Tina ♡
* Some Expositor Notes were paraphrased and taken from -JSM Expositor’s Study Bible – KJV
When I think about all that I have been through, All the pain, all the heartache, and all the suffering, Nights of tear soaked pillows, All the mistakes I have made, And will make, Feeling like a failure In everything, Never quite measuring up, Defeat etched into my mind, Self worth all but diminished, Feeling abandoned, Unloved,
I am comforted by the assurance that through it all God was there.
Even now I have immense battles that I am desperately trying to conquer, Enormous struggles that no one knows about, Trying hard not to be what everyone else wants me to be, But to just be me. Longing for the wisdom And strength to make wise decisions, Reaching, but never quite grasping, what I was created to be. Wanting desperately to be freed from the toxic relationships that bind me.
Through it all, Even Still, God is there, Seeing my through.
Though my life isn’t what I had hoped it would be, I have never given up. I will never give up. Taking each day as a lesson, Watching, waiting, trusting, seeking and learning all that God is teaching me along this journey.. Holding nothing back and laying it all at His feet.. Letting go, Allowing Him to teach me, To lead me, To guide me, Filling me with His wisdom, His strength, His courage, Helping me to face each day anew. Loving me as His precious child, Renewing my mind, soul and spirit with His Truth, Instilling in me a new found confidence to rise above the challenges and the struggles, To claim victory over my life.
He has given me the life-giving keys that I need to free me from the things that keep me bound. The keys are hidden in His Word (the Bible) empowered by prayer, and completed by the work of His Holy Spirit living in me, Giving me a newfound freedom and a hope so that I may share it with others, Not only so that I may find my own way, but in the hopes that others might find theirs. He has called me out of the darkness To be a bright and shining light for and to others.
I find peace and rest in knowing that through it all He was there, Is there still, In the midst of it all. My rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower (Psalms 18:2 ).. My ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).. He fights for me continuously,
Never once have I ever been alone. Even at times when I felt alone He was there, Comforting me with His love and presence.
He is here, Even Now, Speaking to my heart. When I silently listen, In stillness I hear, He says softly that I am worthy, I am loved, I am cherished, I am valued, I am forgiven, I am redeemed, And I am His. And He is mine.
God has promised that He will never leave or forsake His children.
Knowing the Omnipresence of God, He is everywhere and He comes to us wherever and whenever we call on Him.
“I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.” ~ Psalms 17:6 KJV
Words can’t adequately express just how eternally grateful I am for His love, mercy and grace.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me so, And for making me your child. I choose to walk the rest of my days in Your truth, Knowing that, through it all, You are there Walking beside me.
Your beloved daughter.
.
.
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I wrote this several years ago and although my relationship with the Lord has deepened to a greater degree, this still holds true today.
Through it all, Even Still, God is there, Seeing my through.
The subject of temptation has been stirring in my spirit so I wanted to share my thoughts on the subject.
Temptation can come in many forms, but for the topic of conversation today, I wanted to discuss the temptation of alcohol consumption.
I will be perfectly honest and ashamedly admit that in years past that part of me that walks in the flesh has fallen short of the Glory of God and allowed the whispers, lies and deceptions that the drinking of alcohol now and then is perfectly fine.
Those deceitful whispers penetrate our minds causing what we believe to be justifiable thoughts that trick us into believing that our excuses are acceptable ones.
Here are some examples of the excuses that you might begin telling yourself.
“It’s okay to only have one drink.”
“What harm will it do if I just let loose and enjoy myself?”
“I’m not hurting anyone. I’m just having a good time.”
No harm, no foul, right!
Wrong!
I firmly believe that at the moment of conversion you became a new creation. A new creation in Christ. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I’m speaking in regards to Christians who think that drinking alcohol is acceptable.
When we allow ourselves to fall prey to the false narratives that drinking alcohol on certain occasions is fine, we are only deceiving ourselves. The truth and reality is the results of alcohol consumption are catastrophic.
If you are truly born again and profess Jesus as Lord, but yet you fall short of that declaration you may assuredly begin to feel an overwhelming conviction of the wrong you just committed. Not only against all that you hold dear about your walk with Jesus, but the disobedience towards God is enough to cause you to feel such unbearable shame, regret, dishonor, and disgrace at your disloyalty to God.
The only thing you know to do is fall down before God on your knees and repent, repent, repent crying, “Lord, please forgive me!”
In the discovery of these harsh realities and truths that come as a result of sin I understand that some may fail. And fail miserably. Some may bend to the veil of temptation. However, some may remain steadfast, unmovable, able to sustain, or withstand without yielding or submitting, resisting the temptation to consume alcohol.
I love what 1 Corinthians 10:13 says:
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
This verse means that the strength of the temptations we face will be proportionate to the strength God gives us to resist them.
I must profess that I love spending time with my family. Some of whom don’t confess Christianity. And some that do, but may not bear the fruit of their conversion. On those occasions when we do get together to celebrate a certain holiday, birthday, cookouts, etc. are rare and far between.
I want to be a part of their lives. Our families are so important to us and we all know that the family bond keeps us connected and filled with joy, love and togetherness. Family is a vital part of our lives. Where would we be without the love of our families?
I thoroughly enjoy celebrating with my family and I look forward to making memories with them and treasuring all those precious moments we have with one another.
However, in my own personal experience there have been those moments and on particular occasions when I’m made unpleasantly aware that there will be alcoholic beverages offered and consumed at certain family gatherings.
It’s a slippery slope some of us must all face where alcohol is concerned. Do we avoid our family altogether? Or do we try our best to be a part of our families lives, but ever be cautiously aware that we cannot and will not partake in or condone sinful behaviors? Consumption of alcohol being one of those sinful behaviors.
The Word of God emphatically teaches separation from the world, but not isolation. (2 Corinthians 6:17
If you choose the latter, as a result of, and in the midst of everyone relaxing, enjoying themselves, and having a good time, you may be faced with and feel that uneasy notion-that temptation will unapologetically bring to the table by being in the presence of others drinking and perceiving what appears to be them just having a little fun. As if getting intoxicated is somehow justified as ‘fun.’
However, at the same time you must realize that getting drunk for the sake of having a good time is never a wise decision.
One moment of what one may call “just having a little fun,” can bring with it dire consequences later.
It’s sinful and should be avoided by all means necessary.
Anything that alters your way of thinking is never going to end in a positive result. Period!
If you don’t know your true identity in Christ this can oftentimes cause unwarranted feelings such as :
Uncomfortable, awkward and somewhat an outcast.
Boring because of your refusal to take part in drinking alcohol.
Feeling indifferent.
Too religious.
Being labeled as a “Holy Roller.”
And the list goes on.
The comparison game begins to fester and you may begin to compare yourself to other friends or family members and instantly you are made to feel like you’re not good enough or that you don’t measure up?
The enemy starts to whisper these lies into your mind and temptation starts to rear its ugly head.
In this disillusionment we have to remind ourselves that we live in a society where many people crave the approval and validation of others.
But where does joining into these false expectations leave us?
Does having that one drink make you feel worthy?
Does partying it up with everyone else fill you with a sense of belonging? Worthiness? Being a part of the crowd?
No, I assure you it does not!
When all is said and done, at the end of the day, our search for approval and validation will only leave us feeling exhausted, unfulfilled, frustrated, unhappy, and worse off we feel as though we have betrayed God and ourselves!
I know in the past I have had to ask myself these hard questions!
And if you’re being truly honest, I’m sure you’ve been there too.
So, what do we do when temptation rears its ugly head.
Let’s look at God’s Word.
Remember, your new & true identity.
Remember who you are in Christ.
Make a decision to walk in your God-given identity!
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 KJV
Here are some verses that might help you to understand your true identity in Christ.
Hallelujah! You have been saved. Saved by the blood. Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 5:24.
You have been forgiven of all sin. (Past, present & future) Ephesians 4:32; 1 John 1:9; Psalms 103:11-12.
You’ve been reconciled. Which was made possible by what Jesus did at the Cross. 2 Corinthians 5: 18
You are a new creation in Christ. Everything given to us now by Christ is “new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Know that you are heard. Call and pray unto Him. God is listening! Jeremiah 29:12
Know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, just as you are. Psalm 139:14
You are blessed! Ephesians 1:3-5
You’re valued! God loves you and handpicked you. Jeremiah 31:3
You are victorious through Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:57
You are loved! God so loved you that He sent His only son Jesus to die for you. John 3:16
Make a declaration to stand boldly upon these truths.
God’s Word does not lie. He does not change. He is the same today, yesterday, and forever.
Remember His promises!
How can we sustain from temptation when temptation is all around us?
If possible avoid temptation at all cost.
Stay in the Word! Fill your mind and spirit with the Biblical truth.
Pray! Ask God to strengthen your mind, body and spirit.
When placed in a compromising position, remember who you are and whose you are in Christ and remind the enemy that you are no longer a slave to those fleshly desires.
Proclaim the victory that is yours through what Jesus Christ has done for you at Calvary’s Cross.
I promise you the enemy, his lies, his deceptions, his accusations, the temptations will flee. In the name of Jesus’.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that having one drink or only on special occasions is fine or acceptable because it’s absolutely not.
As Christians, the Bible instructs us and we are called to “… come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch not the unclean thing; And I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV)
As stated, the Word of God emphatically teaches separation from the world, but not isolation.
1 John 2:15-17 say this:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
God wants to do a new thing in your life! He wants to change the way you think about those things that He constitutes as sinful behaviors. It’s time to arise and shine from the untruthful, deceitful, trickery and malicious attacks in which the enemy has kept you. Rise to a new life in Christ Jesus. Isaiah 60:1.
Daily Prayer Devotional SATURDAY, February 20, 2021 By Tina Unsell Seamon
~ THE JOY OF THE LORD ~
“For the joy of the LORD is your strength.” -Nehemiah 8:10 KJV
LORD, sometimes my days seem so commonplace and I feel tired and worn. Thoughts, often invade my mind that the days are forever unchanging. Most days, finding it hard to experience any Joy, leaving me filled with lowness of spirit.
O, LORD, help me to earnestly seek to go about my days with a positive outlook on life. Renew in me a new attitude of mind, soul and spirit. Lord, direct my path and guide me in all Your ways. May my conduct always reflect a lifestyle in the manner that is worthy of you. Help me, Lord, to remember that life is a precious gift and that you ultimately hold the key to all Joy. Lord, lift up Your countenance upon me and cover me in Your Peace, which can only come from you. Remind me, Lord, that you are the Master planner of my life and it is ‘Your Joy’ that gives me strength. O, Lord, I can joyfully rejoice; because it is You, that is rejoicing in me. Amen.
…for the JOY of the LORD, is the Joy that fills God’s heart. When we are obedient to God, the Lord rejoices in us. In return, we too will experience the Joy of the Lord, and it will be our strength. Remember, this is God’s Joy, which we are privileged to share.
You know sometimes I beat myself up Trying to be the perfect writer. To have the perfect rhyme. To have the perfect poem. I can’t count the times that God has whispered to me… “You don’t have to be perfect… Just share what’s in your heart.”
It’s true! Writing isn’t about having the perfect line… The perfect phrase Or the perfect quote. It’s about what’s in my heart. And for me it’s more about what God has placed in my heart To share with others.
I don’t have to be perfect. I just have to be who God created me to be. And share the gifts He has given to me.
He knew me long before I was conceived. And He knows the plans He has for me. To inspire and lead others to Him, With the words He graciously bestows.
He knows I’m not perfect, And never will I be. But He knows my heart. A heart that longs to bring Others closer to Him.
And if my words touches one soul.. Then that’s a blessing. And I am blessed to be a blessing.
Sometimes life isn’t always kind. And I am certainly a-witness to that. So often times it’s a test of faith And I can with all honesty say that I haven’t always past the test. More often than not I fail miserably.
But God doesn’t expect us to always get it right. But He does expect us trust Him And to use the trails we face As a way to learn and grow. To become more dependent on Him And not ourselves. Easier said than done, right!
He is the strength we need That will get us through the circumstances of this life. We cannot run this race alone. We need God! I know I desperately do!
He is our rock. Our shelter from the storms. He is the one to run to when the waves get too turbulent to withstand. He is the one who will hold us up and keeps us from drowning.
If I have learned anything by trying to do things in my own strength, It is that I will always fail…Undoubtedly!
God will and has always been the power, The strength and the defense to our problems. We just need to learn to rely on Him.
Because I can tell you from experience… Without God in the midst of our situations We will most assuredly drown.
Hardships are inevitably a part of life, But with Jesus as our anchor We can withstand any storm.
Simply put, our anchor is Jesus Christ. He is our only salvation from sin — the anchor of our souls (Hebrews 6:19) that holds firm, especially when the storms of life threaten and when the enemy’s temptations blow hard against us.
TINA UNSELL SEAMON 