The Bible is a book that teaches about relationships with God and with one another. It tells us how to form and maintain Christ-like relationships with others. Jesus totaled up a scripture about relationships with a command; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31 RSV).
To get rid of a jealous spirit, you must practice contentment. Contentment doesn’t imply that we are acknowledging that our lives will never get better. Rather we are putting our trust in God that whichever situation we find ourselves in, he’ll make a way for us, and his presence is sufficient for our contentment. We should always be content with what we have and who we are in Christ.
What Is the Spirit of Jealousy?
Jealousy is not new; it has been a thing since God made humans. In the book of Genesis, Cain was jealous of his brother and killed him because of it. In 1st Samuel, King Saul was very jealous of David, which sometimes made him mad and he attempted to kill him. Additionally, some of Jesus’ disciples were jealous of one another, asking Him which of them was the greatest.
Jealousy is a monster because it ruins the lives of people who let it into their hearts. It brings unhappiness and anger and hinders us from seeing the blessings in our lives. Being jealous of your neighbor yields nothing but evil. No two persons can be the same, no matter how hard we try or wish to become like them. Neither can we have the life they live that makes us jealous of them. God has created us all differently, and he has a unique plan for all.
The scripture tells us that jealousy can even make us sick: “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (Proverbs 14:30 NIV). Lack of contentment is a trait of a jealous or envious person, and God wants us to be content, always believing that he is doing and will continue to do marvelous works in our lives. Being jealous is unwise and a waste of time. It is important that we live at peace with our friends, be content with what we have, and be grateful for everything.
How To Get Rid of a Jealous Spirit
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Trust in God’s Plan for You
Jealousy kicks in when you start feeling that a person’s wins in life outweighs yours. You may grumble that a friend is promoted at work instead of you, that your friend’s husband is more affectionate than yours, or that your children are less successful than your friends’.
By letting in these jealous thoughts, you’re turning away from God’s word. God promises that he has a plan for you, a plan to succeed and give you a future (Jeremiah 29:11). God has his own individualized plan for you, your friend, neighbor or anyone whose lives you may be trying to match up to.
Therefore, it is your duty not to be distracted by where you think God is leading you in life. You can only do this by disputing jealous thoughts before they creep in and bring down your mood. Rather, make a deliberate effort to trust God over your temporary situation.
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Always Pray and Study the Bible
It’s God’s will to ease your worries and guide you through your struggles. Just like any parent, God wants to be the voice that leads you to not go astray. He wants to tell you the path to take when you’re at a crossroads (Isaiah 30:21). But he can’t assist you if you don’t share your problems with him.
Studying the word of God gives you the desire to be your best self. Always speak to God in prayers and lay your problems at his feet. Reminisce on God’s promises that he brings the best out of every situation for those who bestow trust in him (Romans 8:28).
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Count Your Blessings
When you agitate in resentment over someone’s blessings, you may unintentionally be shrugging off your own. Always count your blessings instead of the losses. Proverbs 14:30 tells us that if jealousy is left uncontrolled, it can give rise to discontent for oneself, as “envy rots the bones.”
Rather than downplay the value of the blessings God has brought us, take your time to appreciate them. From being alive to your job, family, shelter, and many more privileges you’ve got. Take a moment to reflect on ways in which you’re more fortunate than others. However, don’t do this in a selfish way, but in a manner that gives praise to God.
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Wish People Well
Always wish others well, especially those whom you’re most likely to be jealous of. Although we were made in God’s image, we have flaws because of our free will to make human decisions. When we come in contact with someone who has something that we want, we’re given a choice: either to wish them well or resent the person. If we can’t wish them well for their sake, then wish them well for your good.
Luke 6:45 says, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” It simply means that if we let jealousy fill our hearts, our actions and words will dictate the state of our hearts. You find yourself making disdainful remarks and doing ill to bring others down as a way to uphold yourself. This is not the right thing to do, and more so, it’s not a part of the Christian faith.
Rather than going low in jealousy, simply wish them well. Then, you move on to avert your jealous thoughts to something positive. The more you discipline yourself and practice wishing others well, the faster you can get back to living your best life. And it becomes an easy thing to do.
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Overcome a Jealous Spirit by Making Your Life Better
Jealousy sets in by prideful comparison. An indicator to improve our lives is when we often get envious of others. Pay attention to what activates your jealousy and look out for positive changes you can make to manage the source of that jealousy.
For instance, if you’re jealous of a person’s body, you can find better means to gain weight appropriately and eat healthily. Use jealousy as a tool to navigate into something good by eating better, exercising frequently, and improving your life. Also, walking in love and faith conquers the spirit of jealousy.
Conclusion
Jealousy is pure evil, and it tends to let in demonic spirits in our lives. The Bible tells us that we are not made with a spirit of timidity but that of love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Fully fortified with love and self-discipline, make an option not to let jealousy take a toll on your life.
You can do this by trusting God’s plan for you and wishing people well as you aim at being the best version of yourself. However, the more we study the word of God with a clean heart, the more we get to learn that the scripture guides us through a route on how we can be in control of our behavior before God and our neighbors.
