In the sisterhood of Christ we are to help one another in
ways that the world doesn’t. I have Bible to back me up on this, “They will
know that you are mine, by the way you love one another.” Yup, that’s what Jesus
has to say about it. But, many don’t know we belong to Him by the way we love
one another, because we are weak in the love and giving department.
One area we are very weak in, is encouraging each other to
soar. We aren’t the cheerleaders we could be. We are not applauding each other
and shouting, “You can do it sister! Go, Go, Go!” We’re not grabbing hold to
support our sister when we see she is ready to give up or fall—no, secretly we
are hoping she fails.
Writing this blog made me dig deep within myself, because
there was a time this was me and I wanted to come clean and be transparent as
to what motivated me at the time.
For one, I was a very insecure person, who wore low self-esteem
as if it were a royal gown and had a heart full of envy. These are the things
that stopped me from being totally happy for anyone else.
During the period when I wanted to be married, it hurt every
time I heard someone had gotten engaged or had married. I would paint on a
happy face and pretend I was happy for them, but the true state of my heart was
one full with envy.
Whenever we put our self-worth or value into what we do or
accomplish, we will always be envious of others. It stands to reason, because
we feel we are not measuring up when it seems someone is doing better or one-ups
us.
Well, this was all fine and good when I lived outside of the
Kingdom of God, because that is what sinners do—but it was not okay when I gave
up my residency in the world to move into the Kingdom. God demanded more of me
as He does all His daughters. It was time for change. I had to start putting on
the new me, the Jesus me!
Let’s fast forward to today…Now that I understand how much
God loves me and that there is nothing He has for me that anyone can rob me of—I
am free of envy!
The more I strive to walk in love—I am free of envy! I
Corinthians 13, tells us, “Love does not envy!”
It has taken time for me to learn to believe God and what He
has to say about me. It took a lot of work, to no longer think that my value or
self-work are linked to what I do or achieve. But it was worth the struggle,
because now—I am free! But this is a truth that some of my sisters have yet to realize,
and it is hurting the Body.
As you all know, I’m a writer. Okay, big deal! There are plenty
of writers in this world and so many different types of writers to boot! (But I
am so happy I don’t have to write text books—of any kind! J)
But guess what? None of us are the same—we all have different skill sets and personalities,
and that should make us happy for each other—but I don’t find that so much in
the Kingdom. We are so insecure in the Lord and envious that we are not
cheering each other on as we should.
It is sad to have to say this, but I know women who don’t
even confess to know Jesus, who help and encourage me more than many of my
sisters-in-Christ when it comes to my writing and what I am doing with it.”
Prime example—for all the people (including family) I send a weekly email to
with this link—very few bother to read the blog. How do I know? There’s a
tracker on the blog site. It doesn’t
tell me who reads it, but just how many. The numbers are low, compared to all
the people I send it to.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in the numbers business and I am
faithful in doing the blog as God has instructed, so it is up to Him as to who
reads it and who doesn’t. I’m just using this as an example of how we don’t
support each other when we have an opportunity too.
Yet, folks will not hesitate to ask me to edit things for
them or share information that will enhance their writing endeavors. See, the
Kingdom has many writers, want-to-be writers and writers-in-the-making. And I
have learned to be happy for them all! Because what they are doing, has nothing
to do with what God has anointed me to accomplish.
We are big on quoting scripture concerning sowing seed and
gleaning a good harvest when it comes to our finances, but it can be overlooked
when it comes to sowing seeds of love and encouragement. We don’t seem to put
the same value on it as money. But a harvest of love, is something money will
never be able to afford you.
Sisters, if you are one who is envious or jealous of others,
you have a heart issue that needs to be worked on. First confess it to God and
asked Him to help you change, and then purpose to encourage and cheer on as
many as you can.
When we see a sister trying to start her own business, we
should cheer her on! Instead of being jealous that someone bought their first house
before you—cheer her on! She’s published her first book and you are still
working on yours—cheer her on! She’s pregnant before you—cheer her on!
Become a cheerleader and let’s show the world what it really
looks like to belong to Jesus.
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