Day XCVIII
Today again brothers and sisters we will get the message of the Lord from the book of Thomas a Kephis "Come Lord Jesus a devotional readings from "The Imitation of Christ edited for Toda's reader by David Hazard.
Proverbs 14:30 A tranquil spirit revives the body,
but envy is rottenness to the bones.
The most miserable person on earth is the man or woman who does not know to turn to God - or how to draw from God all that soul needs to live. They are easily disturbed, easily driven to fear and anxiety, easily driven to self-pity and dissatisfaction.
Why are these people so easily troubled?
It is because they cannot control circumstances or get life to turn out exactly the way they want it to. Also because they cannot have exactly what they want. They're constantly looking at others, thinking, Look at him. He's had all the advantages. But I have to work so hard, and I don't get the rewards. It's not fair. Or she's so gifted. So talented. Everyone just loves her. Why did God not bless me in that way?
Well, I would love to meet these "specially blessed" people who have "so many advantages" you don't have. Where are they? Show me one.
No one who lives in this world can avoid hardship, loss, trouble, sickness, or heartache. Not even a king or pope himself.
I'll tell you the source of our trouble. We imagine that a perfect someone else learned how to find more "favor" with God than you do - or that God chooses certain "favorites," while He mistreats or ignores others. The whole basis of our thinking is wrong because we equate worldly comforts - health, money good looks, great opportunities - with spiritual blessing.
The one who is most favored by God is one who has been taught by the Spirit how to bear all things with patience and joy, for the sake of knowing God better. This man or woman is powerful in spirit, and they overcome every hardship or loss with grace, strength, and brilliance from within They have favor with God because they are humble and easy for Him to direct, so He can quickly show them how to turn their suffering and loss into victory.
If you want to say weak in spirit, caught in a snare of envy that rips our soul apart, then keep praying as we praying: Look at so-and-so. He has everything - wealth, power, position, people admire him - and on top of all that, he's great looking. How is that fair, God?
But if you want to escape Satan's trap, then fix the eyes of your soul on the goodness of God himself, as He orders all things... and who gives eternal rewards that do not decay and crumble like these earthly things you value so much. Only in the light of eternal things will you be able to see reality as it is - to see that the things we are tempted to envy will fail, and soon pass away.
Let us pray:
Father, it's so easy for me to envy someone who seems to have "everything" - or to think you've treated me unfairly when someone has been given advantages I don't have.
Help me to take my eyes off other people - their possessions, position, power or looks. By your Spirit, open my eyes to see your amazing wisdom... to know and accept the pat you've chosen for me... even if it leads through pain loss, impairment, and being ignored by others.
Only let me know your living presence with me.. and that will be enough. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen
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