Psalm 16:5 reads, “Lord, you guard all that is mine.”
Have you allowed envy to form a “stronghold” in your life? Do you find yourself avoiding or feeling resentful of certain people because of their success? The Bible says, “Envy rots the bones” (Proverbs 14:30) and the New Living Translation paraphrases it this way: “Jealousy is like cancer in the bones.”
If you find yourself constantly criticizing someone and craving what they have, read these words and think about them carefully and prayerfully: “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen” (Jeremiah 29:11-12).
In essence, envy says to God, “You made a mistake when you made me like I am. I want to be like that other person, and have what they have!” No, God has a unique calling and destiny for you. So instead of giving place to envy, let it motivate you to become the best possible “you” – the person God intended you to be.
If you’re fighting a losing battle with envy, here’s a prescription from God’s Word you need to take every day: “Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice” (Psalm 16:5-9).
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