A Prayer to Keep away from Envy
By Meg Bucher
“Don’t envy sinners, however at all times proceed to concern the Lord. You’ll be rewarded for this; your hope won’t be disenchanted.” – Proverbs 23:17-18, NLT
Sidelined once more. After years of strengthening my physique and treating outdated accidents, I had lastly been in a position to benefit from the factor on this earth I like probably the most …operating. Via the native park within the early morning hours, I discovered myself smiling, rejoicing, and getting quick once more. The refined ache in my left knee drifted from nagging to throwing my stride right into a tizzy in a matter of days, and I discovered myself weeping over what I feared I had misplaced once more. I envied individuals who might do what I couldn’t, and it aggravated me that folks with utterly wholesome legs didn’t use them to run – it didn’t appear honest, and I rapidly began to really feel sorry for myself.
Dictionary.com defines envy as “a sense of discontent or covetousness with regard to a different’s benefits, success, possessions, and so forth.” Working is an efficient factor. It retains me wholesome, bodily and mentally. We’re speculated to be good stewards of these issues, however permitting my love for operating to let envy run wild in my coronary heart was one thing I knew I wanted to dash to God and hand over to Him.
The ESV World Examine Bible says, “As an alternative of envying those that ignore God’s means, pleasing the Lord ought to be the believer’s high precedence (v. 17). Such a path is the one true hope for a future.” It’s particularly the individuals who don’t imagine in, care about, pray to, or have a relationship with God that actually get underneath our pores and skin. It appears unfair. We pursue God and anticipate Him to bless our each stride in life. However true religion reminds us we dwell in a damaged world, and issues break. It doesn’t imply they aren’t fixable, nor does it imply God is ignoring or punishing us. So, as we decide ourselves up from the sideline time and again, regardless of how discouraging it will get, let’s by no means cease operating this race alongside Christ, Jesus.
Let’s pray:
Father,
Typically, we consider envy when it comes to bodily issues individuals have and personal, flourishing careers, completely satisfied households, and a seemingly stress-free existence. I confess after I can’t run, I envy individuals who can! Get that out of my coronary heart, God! Assist me, as a substitute, focus my vitality on looking for You and growing new strengths within the course of. Father, strengthen the weak components of our physicality that trigger us to sin and stumble. If a sore knee may cause my coronary heart to be sick with envy, I can solely think about what else is making my coronary heart harm! Search our hearts, God. Renew a proper spirit in us, and cleanse us from our hidden sins.
Father, we raise our worries as much as You as a result of You care about us. Pry no matter is ailing us out of our palms, God! The temptation to run for fast options and seize management of issues that aren’t going the best way we wish them to is large. Train and empower us to obey You always with an perspective of Pleasure, God! Proper the ship of our hearts when it’s about to capsize due to hopelessness and ache. God, we all know we dwell in a sinful world, however we should be reminded of what which means in our on a regular basis lives. Assist us to develop discerning hearts and minds, particularly after we are annoyed and envious.
Envy shouldn’t be one thing we wish operating our lives, God. Please assist us repent from envy. Exchange it with a correct view of the individuals we’re envious of. Nobody has a stress-free life. Father, after we are tempted to go searching and examine our lives and circumstances to the individuals round us, change our minds. As an alternative, assist us to see the individuals You may have positioned in our lives the best way You do. You set us in neighborhood for a motive, God, alert us of envy, which may cease us from connecting with individuals the best way You propose us to.
God, life is difficult when it doesn’t go the best way we wish it to, particularly after we are working arduous to do one thing wholesome and productive. Assist us to seek out consolation in You, understanding that life shouldn’t be at all times honest, and there may be ache on this world that can upset, harm, and anger us. Assist us to take all these issues to You instantly, God. Bless the docs who take care of our bodily aches and pains and the advisors who assist us revive our psychological well being when we have to come out of a downward spiral. God, we confess discontent and covetousness. Yuck! Assist us repent of those attitudes, which inevitably steal the enjoyment from our each day lives, and allow us to as a substitute embrace the hope we’ve got in Jesus, regardless that – and particularly when – issues usually are not going our means. If we are able to study to rejoice within the arduous occasions, we most definitely will really feel the lightness of pleasure after we expertise therapeutic and victory in our lives.
In Jesus’ Title, amen.
Picture credit score: ©GettyImages/MatthiasLindner
Associated Useful resource: Bear in mind God’s Enduring Love for You on this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100!
This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will show you how to expertise and reward God for his never-ending love for you. Turn into conscious of God’s presence with you, and reward God for his loyal and enduring love from the start of time and into the long run. Hear to each episode of the So A lot Extra Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so that you by no means miss an episode!
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