Though shall not wish to be someone else! We are at our final commandment in which God wants us to remember how fearfully and wonderfully made we are. (Psalm 139:14) I also think of the saying, “Be yourself because everyone else is taken by Oscar Wilde.
1. You shall have no other Gods before me
2. You shall not make for yourselves an idol
3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
5. Honor your father and your mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not give false testimony
10. You shall not covet
Our mind has a way of making us notice everyone around us and falling into the pit of wishing we were something we are not at this moment. Jealousy can root in so many ways when we look at someone else and think that someone gets more attention, has a great social group, the “perfect” house, has beautiful children, a spouse, a great job, has all the luck, is beautiful, and overall far better off than me. It is not a good feeling to feel like you are not enough and can never do enough. The pastor at my church quoted one of his friend’s lines when he was in high school admiring a pretty girl. He said, “Pretty is on the surface, but ugly can go really deep.” Amen! God knows this and that’s why he commanded us “Do not covet”. Do not be jealous.
If you have faith in God above, you have all that you will need because your faith will bring you the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control ~Ephesians 1:13-14. Can you imagine having all of that! It is possible if we turn our jealousy into praise and gratitude. God has done incredibly well with you. I bet he would even say, “This is my son/daughter with whom I am well pleased” despite things that you have done. God doesn’t keep track of our inequities. It says so in Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” So there is no point in tearing yourself apart about things you have done in the past and who you are today. Do not look at someone else and say I can never be like them; they’re so much better than me because we wouldn’t want you to be anyone God didn’t intend you to be.
In 1 Corinthians 12:7, it says “A Spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” So if we all had the same talent, looked the same, and had the same thing, how could we help each other? So you can’t sing. Instead, you smile and dance in the audience. So you can’t cook. You can enjoy the delicious meal someone else prepared and then you can clean up afterward. So you are short. Then you can easily reach low places for the person who is really tall with a bad back. So you are a few pounds overweight. If you are confident in yourself and see your beauty, then you can inspire someone struggling with an eating disorder to see that happiness does not come with a thin waistline. The world needs to see the joy with imperfection and not this façade that perfection brings happiness. That is a lie. We all know it.
To end our belly series, I want you to look in the mirror after you bathe, touch your belly and say thank you. I love you. God, you did well. Think of all the organs in this area and how magnificently they all work together! Wow! Absolutely amazing, just like you.
Live spiritually in connection with God. Let go of the physical world and you will covet no more.
Romans 8:5-6 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Voyage to HEAL Weekly Task
Stretch: Complete the video below and see how powerful your mind can be to change your alignment.
Exercise: Michele Gangwer taught me this exercise recently and I love it so much that I’m trying to do it each day. I haven’t succeeded yet, but I’ll get there. Get on all 4s in quadruped. Place a yoga block or a really thick book under one knee and hover the other knee next to it. Extend the knee that is not on the block. If this is easy, extend the opposite arm out in front of you. Try 8 of these and repeat this on the opposite side. (I have to repeat this one because I didn’t get to it last week and it’s a good one!)
Habitual Change: Get rid of clothes you do not wear, but hope to someday. Decluttering your environment is a great way to live in “I have enough”.
Perspective enlightenment: God you did well with me in every way. Thank you
Journaling option: Review the fruits of the spirit. Which ones are strong in your life and which ones would you like to work on more? Set a plan with God to be strong in all these areas.
This week’s blog post coincides with week 8: I am enough. You can purchase this week in the store on the webpage. You can also purchase the Inner Peace Meditation CD or start your full online Voyage to HEAL. Click here to visit the store. Most importantly, start being kind to yourself always. As God gives you grace, so should you give it to yourself. Stop fighting yourself. Instead, love yourself.
Godspeed on your Voyage to HEAL
Love,
Jocelyn