“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise thee; for I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE”
~ Psalm 139:13-14
Who or what are you letting define your worth? Whose expectations are you trying to live up to? Are they yours? Do you judge yourself according to what you believe a parent, friend or spouse expects of you? Wanting to be the best YOU is a very real and powerful goal. However, when it comes to defining who you are and your worth, there is only one that has the power to do that.
God made you and formed you from before the beginning of time. He has a perfect plan and purpose for you and calls you His own. If you are comparing yourself to others and their expectations, you will eventually fail. You were not meant to be someone else.
When you compare yourself, you will become insecure, critical, judgmental and/or uncontent. As soon as you begin to look at what others possess, or what they do and don’t do, you take your focus away from what YOU are created to be and do. Social Media can give a totally different version of a person. You don’t see the true person behind the posted pictures . You try to measure up to something that isn’t even reality. The problem with this, is when you begin to really KNOW the person behind the facade, you can become critical and judgmental of that person. You start feeling above, proud and arrogant. On the flip side of that , you can begin to feel inferior. Thinking you are never going to measure up. Neither is productive. We all are human and we all have our strengths and weaknesses. You must not compare yourself with others or worry about what they are doing.
I have felt over the last few months the enemy trying to discourage me with this exact situation. I was looking at all the social media, and the “things” other ministers and business owners were doing and comparing it to what the LORD was calling me to. My calling looks totally different from yours. Your plan will not look like anyone else’s. It is a special design. A unique purpose. Structured and ordained according to HIS purpose and for HIS glory.
Sometimes, God has us in a “waiting period”. He is developing you and building the foundation needed to support His plan. I love what Psalms 23 says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou are with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runs over.” ~Psalm 23:4-5 God is preparing a special table just for you!
Stop looking at what others are doing, what they have and how they are doing it! The only thing that matters is what YOU are doing. In John, chapter twenty-one, Jesus was speaking with Peter and told him to follow Him, but Peter wanted to know what John, (whom Jesus loved), was supposed to do. Jesus basically told him it was none of his business, and told him again to follow me. When you sit around worrying about what others around you think, or are doing you limit what God can do for you. The only thing you need to do is focus on the Lord. Seek Him and FOLLOW HIM. He is going to take you to the next level and bring out the BEST YOU there is!
This next week, look to Jesus, the author and the finisher of your faith and follow Him. I can’t wait to see what He does through you and in you.
