Learning How

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. I Peter 2:1 NIV

I read this passage yesterday and my first question to God was “HOW? How do I rid myself of that which seems to be such a part of me so much of the time?” Within the list of things that needed to go, the one that jumped out at me the most and spoke the loudest was envy. I knew the feeling, I knew the reality, and I knew the times it came upon me. I didn’t like it, want it, or need it. And yet there it was! It was a part of me as much as my brown eyes, brown hair, skin, and bones. And now I was faced with a command that showed me God’s view of it. It had to go! But how? There is not a command in the Bible (whether for something to do or not to do) that God will not enable us to carry out. He gives no impossible orders! NONE! He will provide everything we need to walk in freedom and obedience to Him, including showing us how to do it.

The answer did not come right away but it also did not fall on deaf ears. This morning He showed me the “how to.” It came while I read some verses from Psalm 73. Asaph is the writer of this Psalm and his prayer was the answer I was seeking. In 73:2,3 he says, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” God instantly brought my question back to me and whispered, “That is how you rid yourself of envy. Confess it to Me. Own the truth about yourself. Ask for My forgiveness, cleansing, and transforming work. Draw near and open up.”

This I know! If I ask God a question and He gives me an answer I would be foolish (and unchanged) to not act upon it. So I began to list for Him the people I was envious of. I gave Him the names as well as the reasons. I began to see how the envy was chipping away at my quality of life as well as hindering me from seeing those people in the right light. My confession and repentance opened the door for forgiveness, freedom, and change. While envy will continue to make itself known, I now know what to do to rid myself of it and its effects. God never reveals a truth to me that is limited to one use only. His intent is that I now take what I have learned and use it on a continual basis. He also desires for me to realize that this works on any internal heart issues of which I need to divest myself.

Once again, Father, Your Word has shown itself to be alive and powerful. May I continue to take the questions to You and know the answer through Your Word and prayer. You are my wise Counselor and Guide as I venture through the mine fields of life. Amen.