YOUTH WORSHIP TEAM
DISCIPLINING THE ENVIOUS HEART | Vance & Michelle Shepherd
Envy… such a difficult emotion to keep in don't feel jealous (even though we actually do) 2). LOOK FOR THE DEEPER MESSAGE
check! As we have the privilege of mentoring it has a negative impact on us in many ways. When they get threatened by the success of
youth in worship, this topic is one that we’ve (Prov. 14:30) Challenge them if they are feeling others, there is usually a deeper message
had to carefully address many times throughout jealous or envious of someone, to admit it right coming through that experience. They tend to
the years. We’ve seen the ugly side of envy and away, and then express it in a healthy way. get focused on the person or accomplishment,
how it can divide and destroy even the most and/or themselves in relationship to them or it.
beautiful of relationships. They get caught in the vicious cycle of telling
As our students train in their musical studies,
they get lots of early experience about how to
audition and prepare for live worship events,
but if not careful, this can turn into unhealthy
competition with friends and fellow teammates.
They may feel like someone else’s success
takes something away from them.
The youth of today have it especially hard
with social media platforms, and how they
share photos, achievements, adventures, and
successes with one another in such public
ways. Seeing the success of other peers
can make them end up feeling bad about
themselves, and also have negative feelings
toward that other person, which can lead to
The youth of today themselves negative stories like, “Why did she
have it especially guess I’m a terrible singer and the worship
hard with social of stories (which are simply just damaging
media platforms, help them in any positive way and actually
and how they what's happening inside them. They should
share photos, "Why is that person's success making me feel
judgments of others or of themselves) don't
keep them away from the deeper truth of
threatened?" or, "How can I learn from what I
see in them or in what they've accomplished?"
achievements,
Asking questions like this and looking for the
adventures, and
successes with one
But what if we were able to help mentor them another in such
the envy game altogether? What if we could
leader doesn’t like me”. But these types
ask themselves some deeper questions like,
gossip, undermining, and division.
to take captive their thoughts, and actually stop
get to sing that lead, and I didn’t get one? I
deeper messages in their reactions to the
success of others can lead them down a real
path of restoration, growth, discovery, and joy.
3) CELEBRATE THEIR SUCCESS!
What if they genuinely celebrated the other
person’s success and rejoiced in it? They could
public ways.
also rejoice in the fact that by being so close to
help them realize that the success of others has people who are creating success in their lives
nothing to do with them, and their own success (maybe even the same success they actually
has nothing to do with anyone else but God?
want) could be a positive influence for them,
Taking it before the Lord will bring them powerful too. When they start to realize there is more
As leaders of this next generation, it’s vitally healing of this negative feeling. Lifting up the than enough good to go around for everyone,
important to mentor them to understand that: person that they are envious of in prayer, and they will break free from the constant stress,
praying for God to bless them breaks the curse worry, fear, and pressure associated with living
1). FEELINGS OF ENVY ARE A PART OF OUR HUMAN of these feelings. They can also journal, or talk in that dark place of envy.
EXPERIENCE with a trusted friend or an older mentor. Their (James 13:14-16)
There's nothing wrong with us for feeling ability to honestly notice, feel, and express their
jealous of others at times, which we all have. own envy (or any emotion) is what gives them May you be blessed as you pour into the next
The biggest issue with jealousy, like with most the power to move through it and transform generation of worship leaders!
negative emotions, is our denial of it, and the its potentially negative impact into a positive actions that flow from it. When we pretend we experience.
78
October 2019
Vance & Michelle Shepherd
Founders of The Shepherd School of Music in Las
Vegas, NV, where they work with youth to raise up the
next generation of worship leaders and musicians.
facebook.com/shepherdschoolofmusiclasvegas
www.ShepherdStudiosLV.com
Subscribe for Free...