Spiritual Warfare #12

Continuing on with the results of jealousy and envy by Charles Stanley
The wrong focus Sometimes an envious person will seek ways to ruin the reputation of another in order to get ahead. When we step out of God's will by becoming jealous, we also take a step away from His protective care. He has a plan for our lives, but we are determined to head off in another direction. He allows us to travel our own path until we realize we are trapped in a minefield set to explode.

Indecisiveness When you are not operating within the guidelines of God's principles, you will not know the right thing to do. More than likely, you will do what you think seems best according to your outlook.

Many believers take one wrong turn after another because they think they are on the right track. They see others headed in a certain direction, and they want to go that way too. God tells us to follow only Him. We learn to do this through prayer and meditation on His Word. When our hearts are submitted to Him, the Holy Spirit will guide and direct our path - a path that leads to many blessings.

Struggle with feelings of depression When you open the door to jealousy, you also open the door to a host of other difficulties, such as feelings of despair and depression. I am not suggesting that you will become clinically depressed. However, depression usually comes when we deliberately invite sin into our lives.

For example, you may be at odds with a coworker or friend, and the first thing you do in the morning is begin to think about that person. You wonder if he is getting ahead of you. All day long you are stewing inside over the fact that you do not have what he has. God instructs us to "cease striving and know that [He is] God" (Ps. 46:10). Actually no one knows that others are facing - the heartaches and difficulties.

As you think about this person and try to manipulate your circumstances to get ahead of him, you become more anxious and downcast. The psalmist told us to life our eyes to the Lord because He is our help and strength (Ps. 121:1) This is exactly what cures a jealous heart, a depressed mind, and an anxious spirit. When you come to the place where you realize the great love and affection that God has for you, you will not be worried about what others have. You will just want God's best given to you exactly when and how He plans the delivery.

We'll stop there for today. There are three more in this section, A loss of privileges and opportunities, broken fellowship with God, and physical sickness. See you tomorrow.