Choosing Celebration
"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." [Proverbs 14:30]
Writer Marilyn McEntyre shares the story of learning from a friend that "the opposite of envy is celebration." Despite this friend's physical disability and chronic pain, which limited her ability to develop her talents in the ways she'd hoped, she was somehow able to uniquely embody joy and to celebrate with others, bringing "appreciation into every encounter" before she passed away.
That insight - "the opposite of envy is celebration" - lingers with me, reminding me of friends in my own life who seem to live out this kind of comparison-free, deep, and genuine joy for others.
Envy is an easy trap to fall into. It feeds on our deepest vulnerabilities, wounds, and fears, whispering that if we were only more like so-and-so, we wouldn't be struggling, and we wouldn't be feeling bad.
As Peter reminded new believers in 1 Peter 2, the only way to "rid [ourselves]" of the lies that envy tells us is to be deeply rooted in the truth, to "have tasted" - deeply experienced - "that the Lord is good" (vv. 1-3). We can "love one another deeply, from the heart" (1:22) when we know the true source of our joy - "the living and enduring word of God" (v. 23).
We can surrender comparison when we remember who we really are - beloved members of "a chosen people,... God's special possession." We're called "out of darkness into his wonderful light" (2:9).
-By Monica La Rose
What examples of comparison-free joy have influenced your life? How does remembering your place in the body of Christ free you from the need to compare yourself to others?
Loving God, source of all that's good, help me to let go of envy's lies, the kind of lies that suck out joy and "rot the bones." Help me to instead celebrate the countless beautiful gifts of life in Your kingdom.
This message taken from: Our Daily Bread
Writer Marilyn McEntyre shares the story of learning from a friend that "the opposite of envy is celebration." Despite this friend's physical disability and chronic pain, which limited her ability to develop her talents in the ways she'd hoped, she was somehow able to uniquely embody joy and to celebrate with others, bringing "appreciation into every encounter" before she passed away.
That insight - "the opposite of envy is celebration" - lingers with me, reminding me of friends in my own life who seem to live out this kind of comparison-free, deep, and genuine joy for others.
Envy is an easy trap to fall into. It feeds on our deepest vulnerabilities, wounds, and fears, whispering that if we were only more like so-and-so, we wouldn't be struggling, and we wouldn't be feeling bad.
As Peter reminded new believers in 1 Peter 2, the only way to "rid [ourselves]" of the lies that envy tells us is to be deeply rooted in the truth, to "have tasted" - deeply experienced - "that the Lord is good" (vv. 1-3). We can "love one another deeply, from the heart" (1:22) when we know the true source of our joy - "the living and enduring word of God" (v. 23).
We can surrender comparison when we remember who we really are - beloved members of "a chosen people,... God's special possession." We're called "out of darkness into his wonderful light" (2:9).
-By Monica La Rose
What examples of comparison-free joy have influenced your life? How does remembering your place in the body of Christ free you from the need to compare yourself to others?
Loving God, source of all that's good, help me to let go of envy's lies, the kind of lies that suck out joy and "rot the bones." Help me to instead celebrate the countless beautiful gifts of life in Your kingdom.
This message taken from: Our Daily Bread
Recent
Archive
2022
January
This Year, Glorify God And Enjoy HimHow To Be Fruitful (1)How To Be Fruitful (2)How To Be Fruitful (3)How To Be Fruitful (4)How To Be Fruitful (5)Don't Lose Your JoyThe Pharisee And The ProstituteBecome A WorshiperPeople With A Past (1)People With A Past (2)People With A Past (3)Acknowledging God's SovereigntyDon't Let Your Feelings Control YouLearning From LepersForgive Your Parents (1)Forgive Your Parents (2)Stick With God's Plan (1)Stick With God's Plan (2)Become A ConduitHave You Sinned? God Will Forgive YouHeaven Is RealBe A Restorer (1)Be A Restorer (2)Self-ControlYoked Together With JesusLiving By FaithChoose PeaceSay No To SinBe Courageous (1)Be Courageous (2)
February
Love Wherever We GoA Humble PostureA Fresh StartThe Wonder of CreationNot for Our ComfortSweet SleepGetting What We WantSuccess and SacrificeMortality and HumilityHis Amazing HelpThe Voice of the FatherLiving by FaithNot ForgottenThe Power of LoveWe Are OneWise AdviceBeing SeenLiftSpotting GodLeaning Into GodNever Say "Can't"Love Your Loved OnesThe Challenge of the StarsFollow the LeaderAvoid the DoorPart of the FamilyThe Joy of Good NewsChoosing Celebration
March
How To Be Financially SecureWho Are You Depending On?God Speaks To You Through His WordLike Seeds Growing Within YouThe Smell Of SinBe Passionate About It! (1)Be Passionate About It! (2)Be Passionate About It! (3)Leaning On Your Own StaffAim For The MarkBe FaithfulGod's DNA Is In His WordDon't Withhold It--Give It!Do It TodayWork It OutHow God Changes Us (1)How God Changes Us (2)Think Right, Live RightWhat Does It Mean To Meditate?A Love For God's WordUnderstanding God's Love For YouIntercede With God For ThemDress For SuccessFeeling Good About YourselfUse Your FaithConquering SelfishnessWhen You Die (1)When You Die (2)When You Die (3)When You Die (4)When You Die (5)
Categories
no categories