“So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.”1 “And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’ Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.”2
A Daily Encounter reader asks, “For some unknown reason I have many times felt jealousy over other people receiving things. I always ask Satan to get behind me when this happens but he always returns. I have prayed numerous times for deliverance and forgiveness. How can I overcome this sense of being jealous?”
Hello June (name changed), jealousy is almost always the symptom of a deeper problem; that is, “the fruit of a deeper root.” It is almost always the result of our own sense of insecurity and/or feelings of inferiority. As a general rule, the more secure we feel within ourselves, the less likely we are to have a problem with jealousy.
In other words, to overcome jealousy we need to overcome our feelings of insecurity. To help you do this I suggest your read the article, “Developing a Healthy Self-Image” at: http://tinyurl.com/af5hf.
Second, as I often say, it is important to learn how to pray the right prayer. That is, admit to God that you have a problem with jealousy and instead of asking him to simply deliver you from your jealousy, ask him to help you see the real cause of your jealousy and help you to find the help you need to overcome this problem. For further help read, “How to Pray Effectively” at: http://tinyurl.com/kb62w.
Third, realize that while Satan always wants to defeat us, he doesn’t cause our jealousy. That’s our problem and responsibility. However, keep in mind as the Apostle pointed out in Ephesians, when we fail to resolve our anger, we give Satan a foothold. The same is true with jealousy (and other problems). When you resolve the cause of your jealousy, Satan loses his foothold and as such you take away his power to tempt and defeat you in this area.
Suggested prayer: “Dear God, with all my problems help me to see the real cause/s behind these, and find the help I need to overcome them so I will take away any and all footholds in my life that leave me open for Satan to tempt me in these areas. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”
1. 1 Peter 2:1 (NLT).
2. Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT).
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