Last week I shared that I had read “we are not judged by how we compare to others” in my daily devotional.

So, God is not judging us by how we compare to others.

But then I found myself judging me by how I think I compare to others. How quick we are to judge, to compare.

Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.  Watch where you’re going! Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you. Proverbs 4:25-26 TPT

How easy it is to start looking at someone else’s path.

Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked for even a moment or take the detour that leads to darkness. Proverbs 4:27 TPT

We must be intentional so that we don’t become sidetracked! Or take the detour that leads to darkness.

Confession. I got jealous of a friend’s relationship with God. I saw a post of hers and thought what if God likes her better. Like a little child I wondered, does God like her and her art better than mine. I thought, look how God is showing up for her, what about me. I started seconding guessing myself, who I am, what I do, and how I “measure up.”

How terrible is that!!!

Thankfully, prompted by the Spirit inside me, I found my Comparison Trap book study by Sandra Stanley and started doing some reading.

There is no win in comparison.

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” James 3:16 NIV

Ouch. That’s definitely not what I want.

“then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:2-4 NIV

I must confess my selfishness and ask forgiveness.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

I must celebrate the work God is doing in her life.

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2 NIV

I must remember God’s economy is one of ABUNDANCE!!! He has unlimited resource!!!

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” Luke 15:31 NIV

We are not competing for God’s Love.

We are not competing for His time.

We are not competing for His resources.

There is not some “pie” we are trying to get a piece of and if someone else gets a piece it takes away from our piece. No!

There is no limit to love, joy, peace, goodness, blessings!

There is no limit to God!

No limit to what He can do and provide!

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. ”The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;” Lamentations 3:22-25 NIV

Thank you, God, for offering fresh starts!

Thank you for loving me despite – in the midst of – my struggles!

Sandra Stanley said in Comparison Trap, “Conquering comparison is a race with no finish line. We can create new habits and avoid specific triggers, but the truth is, comparison will perpetually be a tension to manage.”

I feel this is true about so many things in life. We are running a race here on earth with all kinds of obstacles, but the finish line is in heaven.

I love how Annie F. Downs said it in 100 Days to Brave, “Let me tell you about believing in truth and how it changed my life. I’m free. I can live and speak and love openly because I believe I am who God says I am. My insecurities are quieter (not gone, but quieter), my worries are lighter (not weightless, but lighter), and my heart is fuller because I know how God feels about me.” Yes! And amen!!

I love when you become aware of an issue in your life and God begins to work on you, as you seek Him through it, He provides answers and encouragement for you seemingly everywhere.

In my devotional You are the Beloved by Henri Nouwen it recently said, “Take a simple sentence like ‘The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want,’ and repeat that quietly during the day until the truth of it enters the center of your being. You will always continue to have feelings of depression, anger, and restlessness, but when God dwells in the center of the storm, the storm is less frightening and you can live with trust that in the midst of all of the darkness you will be led to a place of joy and peace.” Yes! And amen!

We choose what we think.

We choose what we believe.

We decide who we want to be in every situation we encounter.

We can practice.

We can develop new habits.

I am so thankfully that when I had the thought that was a lie the Holy Spirit immediately prompted me to look at Truth, to extinguish the lie with Truth.

I named the lie and claimed God’s Truth. Praise!

You can too!

Keep seeking and discovering!