Yeah, About Comparing
I tripped over by own feet running a very slow pace yesterday! A car actually pulled over to see if I was OK! I waived them on, thumbs up, just a bruised hip and ego. I finished the run angry! How could something I love to do make me so angry? Well, for starters, I downloaded an app so I could map out different distances for running. The app also tells me how far I've gone and also, what I already knew...I'm slow. Over the years I've matured to not let it bother me. But now it's right there in text after every run - stealing my joy! I came in the house mad. My sweet husband was expecting joy, but what he got was pity party! Oh I threw a great one! "Well, honey, there's no danger in me ever being prideful! I have nothing to tempt me to be prideful! I can't sing, I'm a horrible athlete, I'm a horrible cook, terrible at math, unorganized!..." What's that about the enemy? He comes to rob, kill and destroy...John 10:10.
Wow, listen to this, Isaiah 45:9 “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?"
Wow, listen to this, Isaiah 45:9 “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?"
Anger instead of a thankful spirit, I can move, I can go outside, I have a relationship with my LORD, and it's all GRACE. Thankfully, because of that relationship, I snapped out of my pity party pretty quickly. I need Jesus every day friends, we all do. When I list all the things I'm "bad at doing," that is also a form of pride. It's me saying, "I should be better at all these things, it's the reverse form of pride, but both are pride. Jesus is all I need, all my hope, all my identity. That should be enough! It is enough!
So I'm just going to do a brain download on these computer keys. There's a way to live life in freedom. And there's a way to crush that freedom in about 2 seconds! It happens when we start to COMPARE/MEASURE...because the only truth is that we are all EQUALLY in NEED of JESUS! We all equally NEED GRACE! So that is a "given" for everything I ramble about! I NEED GRACE, I NEED JESUS, AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR GRACE! I'M SO THANKFUL FOR JESUS!
So I'm just going to do a brain download on these computer keys. There's a way to live life in freedom. And there's a way to crush that freedom in about 2 seconds! It happens when we start to COMPARE/MEASURE...because the only truth is that we are all EQUALLY in NEED of JESUS! We all equally NEED GRACE! So that is a "given" for everything I ramble about! I NEED GRACE, I NEED JESUS, AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR GRACE! I'M SO THANKFUL FOR JESUS!
Here I go with rambling thoughts! Just a few Lord, help me sort my thoughts!!! Comparisons are fiery darts from the enemy. Whether we compare blessings or hardship. When we compare on the physical, emotional, or spiritual level, we fall prey to the enemy.
1 Corinthians 4:7 “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”
There's the emotional realm. Emotional pain, whether you hamster died, or you were bullied, or suffered great loss…at the age/stage it happened, again, pain is pain. I say that because when our boy was little and his hamster died, his daddy went out back to bury it with him and he cried right along with him. The worst thing we could can do is compare our emotional pain. What does that accomplish? Our stories are meant to encourage not compare. Comparisons of any kind blind us from seeing what God is doing, or has done through His story in us! I used to feel guilty for having depression when I would see someone in a wheel chair smile. How could I be depressed?!! One day my prayer warrior said to me, “that person is probably happier than you! Don’t compare!” Wow, that was powerful to me at the time!
The spiritual realm, again, we must never compare! A 70 year old person may have incredible break-through at their age because God wants them to minister to their peers in a special way! People further down life's path often need to hear from people their age or older! It's just true! Be thankful for whenever God moves in your heart and share it!
Comparing ourselves physically, spiritually, or emotionally is a trap! The Holy Spirit called truth to come to bear in my mind just when I needed it yesterday. You know what that is don't you? LIFE!!!! ROMANS 8!!! THE MIND OF THE FLESH IS DEATH AND THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE! Whew, life and peace, life and peace! That's why we have to stay in the Word, constantly sowing seeds of truth in our souls.
The Holy Spirit WILL call that truth up when we need it the most! Thank you Lord for saving me from the downward spiral! Trust me, when I'm not in the Word, I can spiral downward quickly! When I am in the Word, I can spiral downward but HE catches me on the way, and it's a beautiful catch! The longer I know HIM, the sooner I recognize when I'm slipping...that's grace...He's catching me, calling out treasures of truth I've hidden away in my heart. Don't compare Julie! By God's grace minister out of humility! Tell about the tripping and falling, the slowly run miles, the ruined meals, the fatigue and muscle pain that slow my pace in life, the brain fog...
That is why I started making this blog public, it's not about me, it's about His strength in my weakness. My journey in life is unlike anyone else's journey. God scripted my story, your story. Being "present" in our stories, looking for HIS "presence" in our moments, that's life and peace. Emmanuel - God with us.
God tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 "casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." We have to be on guard! Come alive and live!
1 Corinthians 4:7 “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”
The Cross is for all of us. The path HE sets before us is designed specially for us. The blood of Jesus was shed to bring glory to the Father by saving us, so that we would gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding of HIS ways, and bear fruit that glorifies God!! All of this is possible because HE adopted us through the blood of Jesus! Col. 1:9-14. We are all equally in need of the cross.
So why do we compare? Sometimes comparisons are healthy. We need to see where improvement is needed and how God wants to work that out in us. But so often we don't intentionally compare, it just happens. It can happen physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
OK, the physical realm, the body. As you know nerves signal pain! And as you know, whether truly injured nerves, or nerves that “fake you out,” as in fibromyalgia, pain is pain! I went several years undiagnosed and got to the point I couldn't fold a wash cloth or type. God uses pain often to help us see HIM. God used many days in bed undiagnosed with chronic pain and fatigue to sow some healing touches in my heart. Story after story, we hear how God ministers to people in their physical pain. There is a special grace that comes with physical pain. Often we see people enter HIS sanctuary with praise and thanksgiving at times when their bodies are broken. We don't have to look far to find stories of undeniable grace in the face of physical suffering.
So why do we compare? Sometimes comparisons are healthy. We need to see where improvement is needed and how God wants to work that out in us. But so often we don't intentionally compare, it just happens. It can happen physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
OK, the physical realm, the body. As you know nerves signal pain! And as you know, whether truly injured nerves, or nerves that “fake you out,” as in fibromyalgia, pain is pain! I went several years undiagnosed and got to the point I couldn't fold a wash cloth or type. God uses pain often to help us see HIM. God used many days in bed undiagnosed with chronic pain and fatigue to sow some healing touches in my heart. Story after story, we hear how God ministers to people in their physical pain. There is a special grace that comes with physical pain. Often we see people enter HIS sanctuary with praise and thanksgiving at times when their bodies are broken. We don't have to look far to find stories of undeniable grace in the face of physical suffering.
Also, we must run from comparing our physical bodies on any level. Whether we compare health, fitness, looks, endurance…we do not know what God is doing through His physical manifestation in our lives, or anyone else's life. Sometimes I think, if I could run faster, I could run with a group. But you know what? I have the most special times with God when I am out running or walking alone. I am not alone. HE ministers to me countless times on these excursions! May we pray for His purposes to play out in pain...ours or an other's pain, ...or someone excelling, ...look for God ...see Him work! Rejoice with those who rejoice, cry with those who cry...be there...be present...HE IS! What is the only thing that closes the "performance gap?" THE CROSS AND ONLY THE CROSS! THANK YOU JESUS
Also in the physical realm, there are “things.” A pair of flip flops means “the world “to someone in a third world country! Maybe as much as a bike or car means to us! And God enjoys blessing that child with flip flops as much as HE enjoys blessing us with means of travel! God gives!! He loves to give! Why should we compare what HE gives? Enjoy the blessings HE gives to those with the least and those with the most! He gives it all! Oh that I would always be over joyed with delight in what HE has given us!!! And, yes, I delight in flip flops!!! :o) By God's grace I do not struggle with envy of physical things, but some of us do, and God wants us to be free of that!
Also in the physical realm, there are “things.” A pair of flip flops means “the world “to someone in a third world country! Maybe as much as a bike or car means to us! And God enjoys blessing that child with flip flops as much as HE enjoys blessing us with means of travel! God gives!! He loves to give! Why should we compare what HE gives? Enjoy the blessings HE gives to those with the least and those with the most! He gives it all! Oh that I would always be over joyed with delight in what HE has given us!!! And, yes, I delight in flip flops!!! :o) By God's grace I do not struggle with envy of physical things, but some of us do, and God wants us to be free of that!
There's the emotional realm. Emotional pain, whether you hamster died, or you were bullied, or suffered great loss…at the age/stage it happened, again, pain is pain. I say that because when our boy was little and his hamster died, his daddy went out back to bury it with him and he cried right along with him. The worst thing we could can do is compare our emotional pain. What does that accomplish? Our stories are meant to encourage not compare. Comparisons of any kind blind us from seeing what God is doing, or has done through His story in us! I used to feel guilty for having depression when I would see someone in a wheel chair smile. How could I be depressed?!! One day my prayer warrior said to me, “that person is probably happier than you! Don’t compare!” Wow, that was powerful to me at the time!
The spiritual realm, again, we must never compare! A 70 year old person may have incredible break-through at their age because God wants them to minister to their peers in a special way! People further down life's path often need to hear from people their age or older! It's just true! Be thankful for whenever God moves in your heart and share it!
Comparing ourselves physically, spiritually, or emotionally is a trap! The Holy Spirit called truth to come to bear in my mind just when I needed it yesterday. You know what that is don't you? LIFE!!!! ROMANS 8!!! THE MIND OF THE FLESH IS DEATH AND THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE! Whew, life and peace, life and peace! That's why we have to stay in the Word, constantly sowing seeds of truth in our souls.
The Holy Spirit WILL call that truth up when we need it the most! Thank you Lord for saving me from the downward spiral! Trust me, when I'm not in the Word, I can spiral downward quickly! When I am in the Word, I can spiral downward but HE catches me on the way, and it's a beautiful catch! The longer I know HIM, the sooner I recognize when I'm slipping...that's grace...He's catching me, calling out treasures of truth I've hidden away in my heart. Don't compare Julie! By God's grace minister out of humility! Tell about the tripping and falling, the slowly run miles, the ruined meals, the fatigue and muscle pain that slow my pace in life, the brain fog...
That is why I started making this blog public, it's not about me, it's about His strength in my weakness. My journey in life is unlike anyone else's journey. God scripted my story, your story. Being "present" in our stories, looking for HIS "presence" in our moments, that's life and peace. Emmanuel - God with us.
God tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 "casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." We have to be on guard! Come alive and live!
Lauren Daigle, Come Alive
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