September 9, 2024
I try to keep a balance in my blog post topics, and as of late, many have focused on homeschooling. It’s been a while since I shared a devotional from my heart, so from my heart to yours, here is a devotional.
Most of my devotionals seem to focus on the heart which is apt because to truly grow spiritually, I must dig down deep--to "heart" level. Scratching the surface—dealing with problems in my life superficially—will not yield genuine, lasting results, but when I allow God to dig deep, even to the point of pain, He cleanses my heart and gives me indescribable peace and grace.
A wise and competent physician seeks the true cause of a patient’s illness. In my first pregnancy, I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and ended up being induced because of such high blood pressure. It was a truly scary time, but God brought us all safely through that time. My heart health was affecting my unborn child, and very quickly my womb was becoming an unsafe place for my oldest. I’m thankful for every midwife, physician, and nurse who looked me in the eyes and lovingly told stubborn me what I needed to hear.
If my medical “team” ignored my heart health, my oldest and I might not be here on this earth. Thanks to the excellent care my child and I received, we are well and thriving today because of careful attention to my heart health.
As I ponder my physical heart, my thoughts turn to the real me on the inside, what the Bible calls my “heart.” I wonder how many times Christians pay fastidious attention to diets, exercise routines, and overall health yet let dangerous “diseases” lurk in their spiritual hearts?
One dangerous “heart disease” that many Christians allow to completely cripple them is envy. Webster's 1828 says that to envy is “to repine at another’s prosperity; to fret or grieve one’s self at the real or supposed superiority of another, and to hate him on that account.”
God, my Heart Doctor, has been dealing with me on this insidious disease, and He “prescribed” the following verse for me:
Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Thomas Coke states in his Commentary on the Holy Bible that a sound heart is “a joyful or congratulating heart; a heart which is rejoiced at the prosperity of others, and which derives from thence the greatest satisfaction to itself.”
But envy rots the heart and eats away at its joy.
Envy is a quiet, almost undetectable sin. It’s respectable. Nobody else knows about it unless I share with others. I feel entitled to more, so envy is okay.
Yet envy is not okay! When I let envy lurk in my soul, it robs me of joy, kills my gratitude, and gnaws away at my spiritual vigor.
Someone else will always be prettier.
Someone ese will always have a nicer home.
Someone else will always have more money.
Someone else will always be a better homeschool mom than I am.
Someone else will always have more children than I do.
Someone else will always ___________.
So how do I deal with envy?
First, I must confess envy as sin. Acknowledge it as the God-displeasing, God-accusing evil that it is.
Second, recognize God’s goodness. I truly lack nothing. Psalm 145:9
Third, learn to rejoice with others. Rejoicing with others is painful. Rejoicing with others takes practice. Rejoicing with others takes humility. Rejoicing with others brings lasting joy. Rejoicing with others is life-giving!
I’ve sketched a little chart that may be helpful to use in your own personal devotion time. I’ve included some scripture and thought-provoking questions for personal reflection. I hope this chart is a blessing to you.
Friend, I know that this post may not have been easy to read. My words can’t give you hope, but God’s Words can! Please don’t let envy choke your heart and rob you of the beautiful life that God has given to you. God wants to settle you, stabilize you, and use you for His glory. God wants you to have stability and joy as you trust Him and learn to view others with love, not envy. May God give you a sound heart as you rest in His goodness and rejoice with others!
-Ashley
Personal Disclosure
As the author of Ashley Qurollo Blog, all opinions are my own. Any possible applications are universal in nature, not directed at any one individual or people group. My sincere desire is to help others by sharing what I am learning. Nothing stated on this blog is ever intended to hurt others. Ashley Qurollo, owner of Ashley Qurollo Blog and Website, is not held liable in any way for any application of the ideas and thoughts stated here.
#envy #devotion #devotional #bible #study #free #freedevotional #women #ladies #kjv #envious #victory #victoryoversin #sin #jealousy #hatred #love #peace #joy #god #needs #genuine #goodness #read #godsword #pretty #money #house #artwork #studyguide #chart #rest #rejoice #sound #stable #homeschool #motherhood #child #children #beauty #personal #home #heart #health #physicalhealth #healthandwellbeing #wellbeing #emotionalhealth #soundmind #think #thinking #others #selfish #unselfish #living #life #purpose #contentment #gratitude #ashleyqurollo
Thanks Ashley 😊
It's always amazing when your blog reflects 😔 what we ALL struggle with.
You share what you have on your mind and heart! You remind us It's always in God's hands! Thank you so much for keeping me focused on GOD'S word!
Mary P