The Contented Life Daily DevotionalÀpẹrẹ

God Wants To Bless You

William Arthur Ward, an American motivational writer and church lay leader, once wisely said: "Blessed is he who has learned to admire but not envy, to follow but not imitate, to praise but not flatter, and to lead but not manipulate." Such is the life of one whose heart is content.

You live in a world filled with envy and jealousy, and both lead to destructive behaviors. If you let envy or jealousy fill your heart, it will psychologically affect your life. These two damaging emotions are often used interchangeably but are distinct with slightly different meanings.

Envy is discontent when someone else possesses or enjoys something you desire. On the other hand, jealousy occurs when you feel threatened by a third person concerning something or someone significant to you. Envy is a two-person situation, while jealousy involves a three-person dynamic. Envy stems from a sense of

lacking, whereas jealousy is a response to the potential loss of something, often someone important to you.

God has promised to be with you, to provide for you, to keep you, and to give you peace that the world cannot give. By cultivating an attitude of contentment, thankfulness, and love for others, you will find this peace that only Jesus gives guarding your heart.

The remedy for the toxic emotion of envy is firstly to focus on God's blessings that you already have, secondly to choose to rejoice with those who rejoice, to bless others, and not be afraid they will get ahead of you. And thirdly, to resist being envious of someone else's possessions, education, wealth, social standing, marital status, children, talents, or anything else. By doing so, God's blessing for you will not be hindered, and you will enjoy the spiritual, mental, and physical health God wants for you.

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By: David Koop