Now, I would like to preface all of this by saying that not all comparison is bad. It can be healthy and provide us something to aim for, or to grow towards. The harmful aspect of comparison comes in to play when we allow comparison to bring us down and shift our focus onto self instead of our loving Creator.
Basically, a comparison becomes a trap when it becomes self-centered and not God-centered. Sydney and I had a discussion, and we found that we both struggle in comparing our own relationship with God with how other’s relationships are. We both begin to think less of our own personal relationship if we see that we aren’t at the “same level” as someone else. As if their relationship suddenly makes us not good enough. It sounds absolutely ridiculous and not aligned with scripture at all when I write this, but somehow Satan twists it up just enough in our minds to make it seem true at the time. So, today I want to give you a few bits of encouragement that you can use when you are negatively comparing yourself. 1. There are no such things as levels. Just different rooms. When it comes to Christianity, it helps if you look at this faith journey like a one story house. In our relationship with God, we will all walk through all kinds of different rooms throughout the relationship. Some people may be in a different room than you are, but we are all on the same level with Jesus. We are all His children, we all get unlimited love, and we all have the same access. The main thing to remember is that we are still in the house. 2. You are not living this life to impress others. We don’t often want to admit it, but many times when we get down and negatively compare ourselves it’s because we are wanting the approval or applause from others. There is no true power in that. It may give a temporary high, but if you dwell in that place it won’t last long. We have to stay on track with Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” We should be more concerned about how God sees us and not others. 3. God made you unique. Stop trying to fit in. You are a special shape that God has crafted to fit into His big puzzle to create one beautiful picture. If we all looked the same, then the puzzle won’t work and we would just lay on the table piled up in a big mess. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” God has this whole thing figured out and He has designed all of us just how He wants us in order for His perfect will to come to fruition. Enjoy how God created you, and thrive with Him in that. 4. It’s not about you. This is the biggest trap that we as Christians fall into. It’s hard to take sometimes, but this whole life is ALL about God and nothing about us. We have surrendered all of ourselves in order to follow and glorify the King. Luke 9:23-24 tells us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Christ. So when the lies come into our minds that this thing is about us, we have to stand up and continue to follow Christ. I hope these four tips help you to continue on in your journey with Christ. Remember that you are deeply loved and cherished, and not every Christian will be the exact same. Enjoy the path that you are on, grow in that, and learn to just be excited about what God is doing. You are beautiful and everything is going to be all right. Have an amazing day! Jesus loves you!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
About Us:At Purley Gates, our passion is to share the love of Jesus with ALL people. Archives
November 2017
Categories |