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Prayer Email archive: (08/11/2003) a healthy self image |
Hello prayer warriors,
1. Prayer note: a healthy self image [Proverbs 14:30] A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. My pastor recently related a story of a 60-year old woman who was suffering from osteoporosis. One day she had a revelation based on the above scripture that envy causes rottenness of the bones. She realised that all her life she has been envious of others and she decided to "put away" envy from her life. She went back to the doctor after that revelation and the doctor discovered that she now had the bone density of a 30-year old woman. A miracle happened because of that revelation. What is envy? I got this definition from the American Heritage dictionary. Envy: A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another. Envy is discontentment and unhappiness because we COMPARE ourselves with others. Envy arouses from a bad self image. Envy arouses when we are not happy with ourselves and we are disillusioned into thinking that others have it better than us! I've lived long enough to know that looks can be deceiving. You can meet completely happy couples or people and discover later, that they too were not immune to tragedy or unhappiness in life. But in spite of this, I still fall victim to this monster called "envy" and frequently look across the room wishing I was younger, slimmer, taller, richer, and what-have-u-not! Can you imagine what happens if we scout around for qualities that are good in others and then magnify our weaknesses in light of those qualities? My father has taught me before that there will always be a mountain higher. It doesn't matter how blessed you are in one area, you will meet people who appear more blessed. There is no end to satisfying envy if we indulge in it and frequently throw pity parties for ourselves. What happens when we have an unhealthy self-image? We rot away. It reflects in your clothes, your posture, your emotional health, your confidence, etc. If you do not control envy, you rot! Okay, having said that, I am still vulnerable to envy. I know many people would tell me that they wished they had what I have, my own business, a wonderful family etc, but like I said, when envy takes over, we become ungrateful and unsound people who do not cherish our blessings. God is wonderful as one day I received a revelation from Him in His Word. I'm sure that this word applies to you too. This is what the psalmist David said: [Psalm 139:14] I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Can you imagine that God says that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and I will exclaim to Him "marvellous are Your works O Lord and that my soul knows very well". God has created me beautiful. Whatever picture you have of yourself, God has made you beautiful, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God's works are marvellous and that means you are marvellous. Do you get that? We have to change the picture of ourselves and be grateful and look at ourselves through God's eyes. If we exude this happy and healthy self image, we project that to others. If we exude a lousy self-image, it will be hard for others to think of us otherwise. Do you want another revelation? [1 Samuel 16:7] But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. God doesn't see the way we see things. We need to change our perspective. God looks at the heart. Are you having a sound heart and are you providing life to your flesh by seeing yourself the way that you were created by God? If you have a sound heart, I believe that everything else especially your physical health and your countenance will change to reflect that. So, if you want a beauty makeover, you have to start with the heart. [Proverbs 14:30] A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. 2. Prayer requests: i. 16yr. old son in local detention center -- friedcrabs516 http://mydevotion.com/p.asp?tid=2343 ii. vaporize debt -- lycheerose http://mydevotion.com/p.asp?tid=2345 iii. terminal cancer -- lycheerose http://mydevotion.com/p.asp?tid=2347 iv. pray for me -- curiouskitten http://mydevotion.com/p.asp?tid=2349 v. Good Ole Byron -- robfactor http://mydevotion.com/p.asp?tid=2350 vi. Restoration of a marriage relationship -- tnimtz http://mydevotion.com/p.asp?tid=2352 vii. healing -- dionne http://mydevotion.com/p.asp?tid=2355 3. Number of prayer warriors: 2060 We welcome everyone who has joined us recently. We have encountered some problems with the site recently with the server being down and the configuration not been restored properly. Now, everything is set up and the site is working properly. However, do continue to pray for the site and to pray for me. I have many battles to win and would appreciate any kind of prayer from you. Your sister in Christ, Wai Hun |
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Monday, August 11, 2003 2:03:28 PM waihun | |
changed on Monday, August 11, 2003 8:36:59 PM |
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