Spiritual Warfare #10

Your Situation From God's Perspective by Charles Stanley
Jealousy starts inside us - usually with a thought or a feeling that another person has more than we do. Our first inclination is to deny its existence: "I'm not really jealous." Deep inside, however, we look for ways to undermine the other person. We may accomplish this through shutting this person out of our lives or working to turn others against him or her. There is a simple principle we must not forget: we reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow.

The earmarks of jealousy include the following:
Comparison
Competition. Whether it is on the job or in your neighborhood, a competitive attitude can breed anxiety, depression, and hopelessness because it tempts yo to ask, Am I as good as or even better than him or her? The question you really need to ask is, Am I doing my best?
Fear A jealous person is fearful of being replaced by somebody or something. Strife and dissension are two of the devil's favorite weapons for war. He wants us to be at odds with God and others. The solution to jealousy is not to deny it, because you can never defeat envy and resentment on your own. It is found in admitting it to the Lord, asking Him to forgive you, and then praying that He would help you see your life from His perspective.

Many people in our world are struggling with feelings of depression, and so much of it could be avoided if only they would rest in God's providential care. I know there are clinical reasons for some depression, but far too often the anxiety and stress people feel come from the overflow of the pressure they place on themselves.

We'll stop there today. Next we'll look at the truth about the landmines of jealousy and envy. Just a side note, I've noticed that warfare usually comes before we're about to really make a difference for God. Many times the enemy starts working to create havoc in our lives before we even know we've been called. You may be reading this and struggling to understand why things are happening they way they are in your life. It could be that you're about to change something in your spiritual life, God is about to call you to something great, and you don't even know it yet. Be courageous, anxious to see what God will be unfolding in your life and face the enemy head on. He'll 'run like the devil'!