“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” — Romans 13:12-14

Envy: A feeling of discontent and ill will because of another’s advantages, possessions or success.

It’s an experience we’ve all had at one time or another. It is so common, in fact, most people think it is no big deal. They see it as just a harmless, human emotion. But they are gravely mistaken.

As innocent as it may sometimes seem, envy is actually the devil’s own poison, designed to turn love into hate and immobilize the force of faith in your life. If you want to see how deadly envy can be, just take a look through the Scriptures. Find out where it comes from and—more alarming than that—where it is headed. Once you do, you’ll want to rid yourself of it once and for all.

“Well, Gloria, that shouldn’t be too difficult for me,” you may say. “I don’t really think I’m envious of anyone.”

That may be true. But let me encourage you to search your heart carefully just to be sure, because many times we aren’t even conscious of envy. We may feel it stirring within us, but we fail to identify it because we assume such feelings are “only natural.”

Gloria Copeland

Holding fast to your profession of faith—
Hebrews 10:23—means to hold fast to your confession.
The Greek word for profession is also
used for confession. The words of your mouth
are more powerful than you probably have ever
realized. Confess your healing…and your health.

Proverbs 18:21
KJV—Death and life are in the power of the
tongue: and they that love it shall eat the
fruit thereof.

Amp—Death and life are in the power of
the tongue, and they who indulge it shall
eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

Moffatt—Death and life are determined
by the tongue: the talkative must take
the consequences.

NE B—The tongue has power of life and
death; make friends with it and enjoy
its fruits.

Proverbs 10:11
KJV—The mouth of a righteous man is a
well of life: but violence covereth the mouth
of the wicked.

Amp—The mouth of an [uncompromisingly]
righteous man is a well of life, but the mouth
of the wicked conceals violence.

Moffatt—The talk of good men is a lifegiving
fountain: the talk of bad men overflows
with harm.

NEB—The words of good men are a fountain
of life; the wicked are choked by their
own violence.

Proverbs 13:3
KJV—He that keepeth his mouth keepeth
his life: but he that openeth wide his lips
shall have destruction.

Amp—He who guards his mouth keeps
his life, but he who opens wide his lips will
come to ruin.

Moffatt—He guards his life who guards his
lips: he who talks freely—it is ruin to him!

NEB—He who minds his words preserves his
life; he who talks too much comes to grief.

Proverbs 15:4
KJV—A wholesome tongue is a tree of
life: but perverseness therein is a breach in
the spirit.

Amp—A gentle tongue [with its healing
power] is a tree of life, but willful contrariness
in it breaks down the spirit.

Moffatt—A soothing tongue means life and
peace, but wild words wound.

NEB—A soothing word is a staff of life, but
a mischievous tongue breaks the spirit.

Gloria Copeland