October 23, 2022 - James 3:14-16

“But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” James 3:14-16 NLT

Lord, we want to have hearts and souls that are vibrantly full of life and reflect you. Jealousy and selfish ambition are like a cancer that causes decay and rot in our hearts and souls. We can only try to hide them away for so long before their presence becomes evident to those around us. Please don’t allow us to be blind to these behaviors in our lives or all right with trying to hide them away. We will never be as successful in hiding them as we want to believe that we are. We certainly can’t hide them from you, and it won’t take long for others to see through our facade either. These things truly do produce a rotting stench that can’t be easily concealed. They do lead to both boasting and lying. They grow and take over other areas of our lives. Sin produces more sin and pulls us away from you and your glory. They truly lead us toward evil. Giving them a place in our lives is giving the devil a place in our lives.

Lord, forgive us for our selfishness and for being jealous and prideful. Give us an absolute hatred of these things. Help us uproot them the moment we recognize them in our lives. When we see them trying to find a place again, help us be quick to immediately turn and walk in the opposite spirit. Teach us how to be content with what we have in every season. Help us learn to find joy in every circumstance. When we feel drawn to be jealous, let us speak more blessings over the person/situation we were jealous over. Let us always make the choice to walk humbly and generously.

In Jesus name, amen.