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<h2>Jealousy, Envy and Covetousness</h2>“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." -Hebrews 13:5&nbsp;<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: calc(18px * var(--body-fontSize, 1)); font-weight: inherit; font-style: var(--body-fontStyle, normal); background-color: rgba(249,250,251,var(--tw-bg-opacity));" data-mce-style="font-family: inherit; font-size: calc(18px * var(--body-fontSize, 1)); font-weight: inherit; font-style: var(--body-fontStyle, normal); background-color: rgba(249,250,251,var(--tw-bg-opacity));">Pervasive feelings of discontentment almost always breeds entitlement, and entitlement when unfulfilled, will always produce feelings of envy, jealousy and covetousness.Despite slight variations in meaning, the underlying feelings fuelling all three emotions is ingratitude. Unfortunately, many people fall into the trap of comparison which opens the doors to bitterness and toxic thinking patterns.<figure id="figure-dacahihunm2ubj90l" class=""><img id="dacahihunm2ubj90l" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1614847938665-2e961376cec6?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxqZWFsb3VzfGVufDB8fHx8MTczMDE5ODYzMHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="woman in black jacket sitting beside woman in black jacket" title="woman in black jacket sitting beside woman in black jacket" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1614847938665-2e961376cec6?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxqZWFsb3VzfGVufDB8fHx8MTczMDE5ODYzMHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Overcoming Comparison:Be Careful of the Content you Consume</h3>We live in a technologically advanced society that thrives off instant gratification. In fact, two words can sum up the current age in all of its glory: social media.While this tool helps us stay connected and keeps us up-to-date on events happening near and far, if misused, this technology can also become the death of us.Whether we realize it or not, the things we watch, engage in and see have an impact on how we feel, what we think and what we do. So, if we’re filling our spirits with content that promotes materialism, folly and sexual immorality, pretty soon, we will begin to notice the roots of covetousness, envy, and impurity sprouting up in our lives.Research proves social media can contribute to a person developing anxiety and depression simply because scrolling down a feed of another person’s highlights can trigger jealousy and discontentment. Even more so, our social media feeds are specifically tailored to our own preferences.This means if the content we watch is not aligned with God’s Word, we can risk exposing our souls to worldly doctrines that can create strongholds in our minds. This is why the Bible says we are to set our thoughts on “things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2).<h3>Finding Contentment&nbsp;</h3>The most certain way to live a miserable existence is to ignore all of the good things that happen in life, while constantly complaining about all of the things that didn’t pan out. Does the saying: “Nothing ever works out for me,” sound familiar? If it doesn’t ring a bell to you, it sure reminds me of a few things I used to say.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-v1puu96s5mm2ubjos2"><img id="v1puu96s5mm2ubjos2" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1564396797585-82f726d7d39a?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxzYWR8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzMwMTk5MzYxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="woman sitting near the osfa" title="woman sitting near the osfa" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1564396797585-82f726d7d39a?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxzYWR8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzMwMTk5MzYxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>In fact, if you’re anything like the average human being, expressions like this are constantly littered in your daily vocabulary whether you find yourself in the midst of the trickiest situation or faced with an irritable, yet minor inconvenience.<h3>Overcoming Comparison: Be Mindful of your Words&nbsp;</h3>While some may argue that “woe is me” proclamations are just used to express our feelings, the truth is, these sayings foster a negative perception that is a symptom of a much bigger issue: ungratefulness. Ingratitude is the act of being ungrateful. It is the antithesis of thanksgiving and often robs a person of their joy through pessimism, complaining and of course comparison. <h3>Embracing Your Unique Journey</h3>A wise man once said comparison is the thief of joy, but what it really is, is the killer of contentment. When a person constantly compares themselves to others, they become fixated on what they don’t have and what they can’t do. So much so, that they begin to overlook and undermine their own skills and talents.This causes them to grow resentful with their lot in life which encourages the development of an ungrateful heart. A lack of gratitude may seem like a trivial thing on the surface; nevertheless, it is a grave vice that comes with serious consequences.

Killing Comparison

<h2>The Dangers of Impatience</h2>The advent of technology has created a global culture where expediency is expected. Since innovation has made things more accessible, people have grown accustomed to getting what they want, when they want it.In fact, it would be an understatement to say the majority of the world would do anything in their power to avoid having to go through a process to reach their intended goals. But while expediting or completely skipping the waiting process can be convenient at times, always expecting everything to happen in the timeline you want is impractical.Impatience is a self-imposed curse. On one hand, the emotion can keep a person agitated and flustered since it ensures they are too fixated on the future to appreciate the present. On the other hand, not being able to wait causes people to crave and eventually cave into instant gratification which always increases their likelihood of making an impulsive or hasty decision which will do them more harm than good in the long run.<figure id="figure-pufog35qmlm2i4pjso"><img id="pufog35qmlm2i4pjso" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1495704907664-81f74a7efd9b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHx3YXRjaHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3Mjk0NjE2MDB8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="person looking at silver-colored analog watch" title="person looking at silver-colored analog watch" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1495704907664-81f74a7efd9b?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHx3YXRjaHxlbnwwfHx8fDE3Mjk0NjE2MDB8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Esau's Rash Mistake</h3>In Genesis 25, we read about Jacob and Esau, two brothers who both struggled with waiting for what they wanted. Esau was the oldest son, which meant he had a right to receive a bigger inheritance than his younger brother Jacob. However, Esau forfeited his birthright for something temporary. The scripture states:“Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!’ Jacob said, ‘Sell me your birthright now. Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’ &nbsp;Jacob said, ‘Swear to me now.’ So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob…Thus Esau despised his birthright.” –Genesis 25:29-35 NIVYou read that correctly. Esau gave up his God given right as his father’s first born child for a bowl of soup. While it may sound crazy, a lot of us have turned our noses up at God’s promises, for a cheap counterfeit that could not even pale in comparison to His blessings for our lives.Evidently, Esau’s rash decision was fueled by impatience. Because he impulsively acted based on his feelings, he made a choice that not only affected his fate, but the future of his descendants who would walk the earth long after he was gone.It is highly unlikely Esau would have died from hunger the exact moment his hunger pangs hit him, but because of exhaustion, he cheated himself out of a great thing for a good thing.Think about it, there was nothing wrong with Esau craving a hearty meal after working hard in the field all day. He fell into error when he made a foolish trade.It is very likely that Esau got hungry a few hours after he ate the stew, which meant he probably had to make himself something else to eat and was out of a birthright. While a bowl of lentil soup may not be alluring enough to tempt us, we, like Esau, lose our sense of discernment when we allow less than perfect conditions, coupled with cumbersome emotions, to drive us into making unwise decisions. Sadly, the devil understands our ability to see the bigger picture becomes clouded when we are in the middle of an unideal situation. That is why he always tries to tempt us when we are at our weakest.<h3>The Consequences of Impatience</h3>Impatience can lead to stress and frustration. It can strain our relationships and affect our mental health. When we are impatient, we often make hasty decisions that we later regret.By practicing patience, we can avoid these negative outcomes. We can make better decisions and maintain healthier relationships.<figure id="figure-q81asnyugim2i4pla2"><img id="q81asnyugim2i4pla2" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1476718406336-bb5a9690ee2a?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxzb3VwfGVufDB8fHx8MTcyOTQ2MTc4M3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="two sauces topped with seeds" title="two sauces topped with seeds" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1476718406336-bb5a9690ee2a?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxzb3VwfGVufDB8fHx8MTcyOTQ2MTc4M3ww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>The Importance of Patience</h3>The Bible says believers should be “in the world but not of it” (John 17:14-16). That is why patience, though an unpopular quality in today’s fast-paced world, should be a revered virtue in the lives of those who love God.In fact, His Word constantly underscores the importance of having patience and explains how hastiness can lead to ruin. The book of Proverbs gives us two clear examples:“The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty." –Proverbs 21:5 NIV“Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” –Proverbs 29:20 NIV<h3>King Saul's Impatient Mistake</h3>The scripture also displays the importance of patience by showcasing the life of Saul, the first king of Israel. The Benjaminite is a prominent example who exemplifies the danger of impatience.In the book of Samuel, we learn Saul took no delight in waiting patiently for God, or following His instructions. As a result, he set himself and his posterity on the course for ruin. After Saul had reigned in Israel for two years, the rival Philistine army assembled to launch an attack on Israel.At the time, the Israelites also gathered together with Saul in Gilgal because in those days, they would not go to war until the priest prayed and made offerings to God on their behalf. &nbsp;Samuel was the priest and prophet at the beginning of Saul’s reign who told the king to wait for him for seven days (1 Samuel 10:8-9). However, instead of adhering to the prophet’s instructions, Saul became so restless that he presumptuously offered the burnt offering himself, which was a direct violation of God’s commandment that only allowed priests to carry out sacrifices.Part of the reason Saul grew impatient was because the people started to scatter after waiting at Gilgal for nearly a week. In fear, he decided to carry out the prophet’s priestly duty. Right after Saul broke God’s commandment, Samuel showed up just as he said he would.“And Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ Saul said, ‘When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.&nbsp;“Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering. ‘And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.”–1 Samuel 13:11-13 NKJVIf Saul had waited a few more hours for Samuel, God would have established his kingdom over Israel forever. Impatience cost Saul an eternal dynasty and robbed his descendants of the honor of being kings in Israel.<h3>Conclusion</h3>Though the stories of Esau and Saul are tragic, they are cautionary tales that remind us of the importance of waiting on the Lord and being obedient during the waiting season. We hear the phrase waiting on the Lord a lot, but what does it really mean? Well the word “wait” means to “remain stationary in expectation.” It is easy to assume the act of waiting is passive; however, to be still and trust the Lord is to be intentional about placing our hope and faith in him.

The Importance of Exercising Patience

woman sitting on black chair in front of glass-panel window with white curtains

<blockquote>For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6</blockquote>When a person lacks relationships with other people, they tend to rely on their inner thoughts for assurance, affirmation and guidance. While this inner voice, which is also known as our conscience, can serve as a helpful tool to convict us when we do wrong, when we have no other voices of reason to rely on, it can also drive us to make impulsive decisions. Human beings were built for relationships. In fact, after God created Adam he stated that it was not good for man to be alone and made him a suitable partner to share his duties with. &nbsp;(Genesis 2:18). Evidently, when a person struggles to relate to others, they stop reaching out to other people, and instead withdraw within themselves. This is how the obsession with ‘me, myself, and I’ is born.<figure id="figure-gnl2iz3j5nm16qpfh6"><img id="gnl2iz3j5nm16qpfh6" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1589878722702-ef9b0839649d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHx2YW5pdHl8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI2NTk2MDU2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a couple of women standing next to each other" title="a couple of women standing next to each other" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1589878722702-ef9b0839649d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHx2YW5pdHl8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI2NTk2MDU2fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Now some people may argue that they cannot be obsessed with themselves since they do not conflate their self-worth or tend to walk around with a big head so to speak. But that’s just it; the fixation of self does not necessarily have to take on the form of arrogance or pride. On the contrary, a person can become obsessed with themselves by harboring self-deprecating thoughts that highlight their weaknesses. And just like an individual who is obnoxiously full of themselves can construct a world that revolves around how “amazing” they are, someone with low self-esteem can create a reality where they are the worst person to have ever walked the earth. &nbsp;Both ends of the spectrum are equally as dangerous since preoccupation with self leads to selfishness, self-pity and self-hate. It is important to note that all of the aforementioned clauses begin with the same four letters.What does God say about Self-Centeredness?<blockquote>&nbsp;Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬</blockquote>Making everything about what you think and how you feel is the quickest way to sabotage relationships. This is because selfishness and self-centered thinking is the primary cause of conflicts, disagreements and dissension. James 4:1 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (NIV). Every trouble starts because of our self-centeredness.” If you haven’t figured it out by now, the world does not revolve around you. But you shouldn’t feel too bad because the universe does not revolve around me either.<figure id="figure-bj3kohv3eom16qn27o"><img id="bj3kohv3eom16qn27o" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1506371968674-19d5341b46cd?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8Y3Jvc3N8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI2NTk1OTQ1fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="silhouette of cross under blue sky" title="silhouette of cross under blue sky" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1506371968674-19d5341b46cd?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxMXx8Y3Jvc3N8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzI2NTk1OTQ1fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Scripture is very explicit about emphasizing the importance of selflessness and the greatest example it gives us revolves around Christ Himself. In truth, Jesus loved us so much that He laid down his life for each and every one of us (1 John 3:16). But there’s more to the verse, because the man of God said because Christ loved us so much to sacrifice His own life so that we could be saved, we should also be willing to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. Obviously, a person cannot if they are only thinking about themselves.<figure id="figure-30d54txnsem16qo7gb"><img id="30d54txnsem16qo7gb" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1536197531100-50b27f49a08c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8bWlycm9yfGVufDB8fHx8MTcyNjU5NTk5OXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="standing woman surrounded by yellow flower field during daytime" title="standing woman surrounded by yellow flower field during daytime" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1536197531100-50b27f49a08c?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNXx8bWlycm9yfGVufDB8fHx8MTcyNjU5NTk5OXww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>My friends, there is nothing wrong about having a desire to work on our weak spots. But as we try to improve these areas, it is important to keep in mind that the answer to our insecurities cannot be found in our physical appearance, job title or bank account. In fact, the solution to our self-image problems –that are virtually triggered by our desire to be approved and accepted by others– cannot only be found through selflessness. Truly, when we think about ourselves less and make an effort to focus on God’s word more, He will give us the drive, wisdom and self-discipline we need to bring about lasting change in our lives.

The Obsession with Me, Myself and I

<figure id="figure-3gqz8538iqm16q9xo7" class=""><img id="3gqz8538iqm16q9xo7" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1516481265257-97e5f4bc50d5?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHx0cmFpbmluZ3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3MjY1OTUzNzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="person locking gym plates on barbell" title="person locking gym plates on barbell" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1516481265257-97e5f4bc50d5?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHx0cmFpbmluZ3xlbnwwfHx8fDE3MjY1OTUzNzN8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>God calls us to be balanced individuals. Now if legalism and outright procrastination lie on opposite ends of the spectrum, discipline is the mediating factor smack dab in the middle that keeps us stabilized and steady. Don’t get me wrong, we shouldn’t impose stringent laws that are impractical or virtually unattainable on ourselves or other people, but establishing goals is not inherently negative. In fact, goals are healthy and they help give us the motivation we need the extra encouragement to push through and stay on course.Discipline in this context is defined as the determination to achieve a certain outcome. In that light, a person who exercises discipline is willing to sacrifice short term pleasure for long term gain. To do this, they create a set of objectives and focus on their desired goal to avoid getting distracted or discouraged along the way. <figure id="figure-likmpe02im16q6hs1" class=""><img id="likmpe02im16q6hs1" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1461896836934-ffe607ba8211?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMHx8cnVubmVyfGVufDB8fHx8MTcyNjU5NTE3OHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="man on running field" title="man on running field" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1461896836934-ffe607ba8211?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyMHx8cnVubmVyfGVufDB8fHx8MTcyNjU5NTE3OHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Let's take an athlete for instance, the apostle Paul said runners discipline their bodies to win a prize. Usain Bolt, who is unarguably one of the fastest men to have ever walked on the planet, did not become a multi-Olympic medal champion overnight. On the contrary, he had to practice daily for hours on end and adhere to a rigorous diet and workout plan to get where he is today. Now while our personal aspirations may not require that type of discipline, chances are our purposes and aspirations will require some form of sacrifice.Discipline is usually utilized and developed during the preparation stage. This means that the end results aren't always visible and the practice session obviously aren’t always enjoyable. God understands this, that's why the Bible states that no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrew 12:11 NIV).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure id="figure-ehdd126n9jm16q8l0d"><img id="ehdd126n9jm16q8l0d" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1514820720301-4c4790309f46?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxwcml6ZXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3MjY1OTUyODd8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="several silver and gold trophies on wooden surface" title="several silver and gold trophies on wooden surface" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1514820720301-4c4790309f46?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxfHxwcml6ZXxlbnwwfHx8fDE3MjY1OTUyODd8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Now if you are anything like me, at first glance you may have interpreted the word discipline to refer to the use of a punishment to correct disobedience. Nevertheless, while correction is a part of discipline, the main components of virtue are characterized by practice and training.Obviously, determination, drive, discipline and grit are needed to accomplish any objectives. In Philippians, the apostle Paul tells us we should “press on to reach the end of the race to receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”While we should avoid bogging ourselves down with rules we cannot keep, we should safeguard against frustration and discouragement by pressing on and trusting God to take us through.

The Difference between Discipline and Legalism

person in black long sleeve shirt holding white ceramic mug

<figure id="figure-olj4i2lmkpm16ppwd8" class=""><img id="olj4i2lmkpm16ppwd8" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1493836512294-502baa1986e2?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNHx8Q291bnNlbGxpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzA3MjU3ODg3fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a man holds his head while sitting on a sofa" title="a man holds his head while sitting on a sofa" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1493836512294-502baa1986e2?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwxNHx8Q291bnNlbGxpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzA3MjU3ODg3fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Loneliness is a state of mind that is bolstered in perception, but the way we perceive things does not necessarily align with our realties. So what remedy does God propose to address a widespread human emotion that is both multifaceted and exclusive to each individual? His Word. Yes, loneliness may feel like a dark gloomy cloud that follows you everywhere, but &nbsp;King David &nbsp;states in Psalms 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” The Father is always with us and the best part is He will never jump ship or abandon us. In fact, the Lord our God goes before us when we are not sure where we are going. He stands behind us to guard and defend us from unseen attacks. And most importantly, when we confess our sins and surrender to his will, He dwells inside us. There is evidence littered throughout the scripture that shows us that God cares when we are consumed by feelings of loneliness. So let’s look at the story of Elijah for a moment:<blockquote>Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went on a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. I have had enough, Lord, he said. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.&nbsp; Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.1 Kings 19:1-5 NIV&nbsp;</blockquote>Now before Elijah ran away and asked God to take his life, he had just demonstrated God’s miraculous sovereignty over all the deities and false idols that had captured the attention of Israel. You see, in the previous chapters Elijah had asked God to stop the rain and dew in the land until he commanded. And after the nation went without water for a few years, the vegetation was ruined and the whole country became devastated and desolate. Things got so bad that the ruler at that time, King Ahab, went out looking for grass to feed the livestock so that they would not starve. He also instructed one of his servants, Obadiah, to look with him. When Obadiah went out he saw Elijah and bowed before him. The prophet then told him that he would go and see Ahab.When Elijah met with King Ahab, he told the king to gather all of the Israelites to Mount Carmel including all of the prophets of Baal and the prophets of Asherah. When they congregated, Elijah told them to make a decision to follow the Lord their God or worship the pagan idol Baal. &nbsp;When the people did not respond Elijah took twelve stones –which represented each of the tribes of Israel- and rebuilt the Lord’s altar. Elijah then set up the wood and cut a bull into pieces which he placed on the wood. After this, he told the people to pour water on the wood and offering, then asked God to answer him so the people would know that the Lord was the true God of Israel.God then rained down fire from heaven which consumed the wood and sacrifice. All of the Israelites who witnessed the miraculous event then cried out that the Lord was their God. &nbsp;As a result, Elijah told them to seize the Baal prophets who were later killed. He then went to the top of Mount Carmel and told his servant to look at the sea. After he had done so seven times, he saw a cloud. Sometime after, the sky turned dark and it began to rain.So what did Elijah do after God performed such a miraculous act through him? He let Jezebel’s vile death threats intimidate him in a way which triggered him to run for his life. And after he had fled and made his bed under a broom tree, God sent an angel to feed him. When he had slept and eaten and drank two times, he traveled forty days and nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. &nbsp;There he went into a cave and spent the night (1 Kings 19:7-9).<blockquote>And the word of the Lord came to him: What are you doing here, Elijah?He replied, I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.1 Kings 19:10</blockquote>It is important to note that loneliness can strike a person right after they have reached a great milestone or have even accomplished a great feat.&nbsp; Still, while experiencing these feelings from time to time is inevitable and very much a part of life, we should not allow them to consume us or keep us trapped in a cycle of fear and dread.In the scripture when God asked Elijah why he had hid himself in the cave, he told Him he was afraid for his life because he was the only one left. In other words, Elijah felt lonely and this sense of solitude was triggered by fear.&nbsp;Notice, the first thing God asks Elijah when he speaks is: “What are you doing here?” Obviously a sovereign God who is all-knowing and omnipresent already knew the answer, but he posed the question because it was His way of getting Elijah to evaluate his situation and his heart. Then the Lord said:<blockquote>&nbsp;Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?He replied, I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.1 Kings 19:11-15&nbsp;</blockquote>When God visited Elijah, He spoke to the prophet in a gentle whisper. Sometimes we are tempted to look for big signs or supernatural happenings to confirm our encounters with the Lord. But while He is capable of doing things beyond human reasoning and defying the laws of science, most times when God speaks to us it is in a still quiet voice. And when he speaks to us, he always puts things back into the right perspective.In the passage God questions Elijah a second time and the prophet repeats his answer. But this time, the Lord gave him instructions and informed him that he had also reserved 7,000 Israelites who had not bowed down or worshiped Baal. You see, Elijah thought that he was alone. His limited scope of the situation made him believe that he was the only one left. But God saw the bigger picture and He comforted Elijah by letting him know he was not the only one left.<figure id="figure-lxuq5k7dmm16pwrmg"><img id="lxuq5k7dmm16pwrmg" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1484973768669-7fb6b5451095?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw3N3x8Q291bnNlbGxpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzA3MjU3OTc3fDA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080" alt="man and woman sitting on sofa in a room" title="man and woman sitting on sofa in a room" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>Friends, whenever you are feeling lonely remember that the experience is not a permanent state of being. In fact, just like Elijah, chances are your perception of your situation may not be completely accurate since loneliness has a way of distorting your reality by fogging your minds with feelings of gloom that are triggered by isolation or &nbsp;solitude. So instead of making impulsive decisions that may harm you in the long run, take the time out to rest, eat the proper nutrition and find a quiet place where God can meet you and speak to you in His still, quiet voice. And when you dwell in His presence, He will renew your mind and strengthen your body so that you can see and understand the bigger picture. And here’s the catch –God always wins.

Never Alone: God's Answer to Loneliness

religious concert performed by a band on stage

Everyone has faced some sort of rejection at some point in their lives. While this is a universal truth, some people are more vulnerable to the sting of rejection than others.&nbsp;While on the surface level rejection may appear to be the feeling you get when someone does not reciprocate your affection, it is actually an oppressive spirit that manifests itself through loneliness, bitterness and distrust.<figure id="figure-0ljzu3vl9lt8wivlr" class=""><img id="0ljzu3vl9lt8wivlr" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1522120691812-dcdfb625f397?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxzdHJlbmd0aCUyMGhlYWxpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzA5MzEyNDkxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="strength healing" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1522120691812-dcdfb625f397?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwyfHxzdHJlbmd0aCUyMGhlYWxpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzA5MzEyNDkxfDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h2>Jesus and Rejection</h2>No one knew rejection like Jesus. The prophet Isaiah said the son of God was a man rejected by many and well acquainted with suffering. &nbsp;After all, this was the same guy that went around healing others, but was beaten, spat on and made to carry a cross by the very people He performed miracles for.What did Christ do when the people chose a revolutionary over Him and condemned Him to death? He accepted His fate and was led like a sheep to slaughter.Amazingly, even though they abused Him, nailed His hands and feet to a rugged cross and pierced His side, in one of His last breaths, Jesus asked His heavenly Father to forgive His accusers.<h3>Forgivness as a Remedy for Rejection</h3>Most of us will never experience the type of agony Christ endured on the cross to be the atoning sacrifice for the world’s sins. That fact alone should encourage us to be willing to forgive those who rejected us.Whether you believe it or not, unforgiveness hurts you more than it affects the offending party. The Bible plainly states if we don’t forgive others, God will not forgive us.Take the parable of the unmerciful servant for example. After he had begged for leniency, the king was merciful and forgave his large debt.But that same man turned around and seized a fellow servant and commanded the servant to pay back all he owed. Instead of extending the same measure of grace to his fellow man, he had his debtor thrown into prison until he could pay back every last cent.<blockquote>“When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything. Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ &nbsp;In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”–Matthew 18: 31-35 NIV</blockquote><figure id="figure-p5on1zm1slt8wixqp"><img id="p5on1zm1slt8wixqp" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1529988885170-6dc8ce34ce6d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5fHxmYWl0aCUyMGhlYWxpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzA5MzEyNDk0fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="faith healing" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1529988885170-6dc8ce34ce6d?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw5fHxmYWl0aCUyMGhlYWxpbmd8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzA5MzEyNDk0fDA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure>Being overlooked, denied and rejected hurts. But no matter what has been done to us, we are expected to forgive the person who hurt us. If we’re not willing to, God Himself will turn us over to the tormentors. The spirit of rejection is a tormentor, and it is a device often used by Satan to destroy us from the inside out.<h2>Forgiveness: The Right Way to React to Rejection</h2>It may sound harsh in theory, but God wants us to be willing to forgive others because He understands what harboring hurt and offense can do to us.&nbsp;Not only that, the Lord was also there when His son was brutally murdered by the people He chose to form a covenant with. He listened and watched as God the Son asked Him not to hold their treacherous actions against them.The Lord knows if Jesus –in his human state– could forgive people who rejected, tortured and mutilated Him for no reason, we in our human capacity, can also do the same for those who have wronged us.I know you’re probably thinking: You don’t understand what they have done to me, they don’t deserve to be forgiven for all the hurt they’ve caused me, for all the rejection I've experienced because of them...And guess what? You may be right. If you’re having reservations at the thought of forgiving someone who has rejected, abused, betrayed or abandoned you in the past, those feelings are completely normal. Forgiving is definitely easier said than done, but can I let you in on a little secret? Forgiving frees you more than it lets your offender off the hook. This is because refusing to do so is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die. The choice is yours.