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Do you ever compare yourself to other women and feel like you don’t measure up?
Maybe you feel think you’re not as smart, pretty, fun, organized or as good at _______ as they are.
I’m sharing my heart over at P31 today about how easy it is to think that if we had more or knew more, we’d be secure. But the truth is, even people who have it all still struggle with feelings of insecurity. The Bible opens with teh story of a woman who had everything but it still wasn’t enough (Genesis 2).
Even though God established Eve’s worth as His child; the crown of His creation and lavished her with gifts of intimacy, beauty, security, significance, and purpose – it wasn’t enough. Satan convinced Eve to take her eyes off what she did have and focus on what she didn’t have.
Have you also heard Satan’s whispers, saying you’re not all you could be — or should be?
Just like Eve, you and I have an enemy. The Bible calls him the father of lies, and tell us there is no truth in him (John 8:44). Interestingly, the meaning of the word lie is “a falsehood with the intent to deceive.”
Satan doesn’t just lie. He has intends to deceive us by getting us to take our eyes off of who we are and what we have in Christ. It’s exactly what he did with Eve:
“Then the eyes of both [Adam and Eve] were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’
He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” (Gen. 3:7–11)
In response, God asks who told them they were naked. In other words, “Who told you that something is wrong with you?” By asking this, God made sure they knew someone was casting shame on them—and it wasn’t Him.
The enemy whispered lies into their hearts, causing them to move away from Him and from each other.
Satan’s intent for us is exactly the same as it was for Eve. He wants us to believe his deceptions and fall into the distraction of feeling inadequate, insecure and like we’ll never measure up. But we don’t have to go along with him. Instead we can pray, “Lord, help me recognize Satan’s lies, refuse his temptations and rely on Your truth about me instead.”
If we have put our trust in Jesus as our Savior, we can stand on the promises of who we are in Him. And when we are tempted to measure up, we can choose to focus “up” instead as we rely on these truths to remind our hearts of who you are in Christ.
I am accepted . . .
- I am God’s child. John 1:12
- I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
- I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child. Ephesians 1:3–8
- I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14–16
I am secure . . .
- I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances. Romans 8:28
- I am free from condemnation. I cannot be separated from God’s love. Romans 8:31–39
- I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God. 2 Corinthians 1:21–22
- I am hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1–4
- I am confident God will complete the good work He started in me. Philippians 1:6
- I have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
I am significant . . .
- I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. John 15:16
- I am a minister of reconciliation for God. 2 Corinthians 5:17–21
- I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm. Ephesians 2:6
- I am God’s workmanship. Ephesians 2:10
- I may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12
- I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
___________
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Thank you Renee for this devotion this morning. Comparison is one of my biggest downfalls and areas of struggle. I compare myself to other women and I really need to rely more on God’s word and what he says about me.
Its a struggle but with your scripture references I am reminded.
Thank you – Be Blessed
Thank you for this much needed message. I am keeping I my head and my heart;
I can do all things theough Christ, who strengthens me.
Seek truth! This is great! Thanks.
I feel inadequate when I don’t receive the affection from my husband that I crave. I know I am still worthy and loved by Jesus, though.
Thank you for your thoughts and reminding us that we are who God wants us to be. This was very helpful in reminding me that I need to look to him and not others for my confidence and security.
A great reminder on who I am, not who I don’t measure up to be. Perfect timing in my life! Thanks!
These verses and your writing are amazingly helpful, no matter our age or circumstances! I’d love to get a book for my daughter and every younger mom to have on hand. Bless you!
Lines up perfectly with what I have been learning this week! Thank you for your sweet sweet words!
Loved this devotional! Today I want to stay “hidden” in Christ. I can think of no better place to be!
As a brand new mom (3 weeks tomorrow!) a whole new set of comparisons have begun. Thank you for the reminder that I am who I’m supposed to be; in Christ and to be the mama of this new life. Also, Phi.4:13 has been a key verse in these early days!
It’s so easy to read the Bible and shake our head in dismay when the ordinary people (just like me) do foolish things. Like when the children of Isreal grumble over the hardships of the wilderness soon after the huge miracle of the Red Sea parting. Or Eve when she was so easily deceived by the cunning lies of satan. The truth is that I am more like these flawed folks than I care to admit, and I can be just as easily tempted. That is probably my favorite aspect of the Word of God – I can relate! And for every mistake made by those who love God, both past and present, His forgiveness, grace, and mercy are always available in abundance.
This is such a good reminder to me. I step on the scale every day and look at the number to see how I am doing. Sometimes I step on the scale 7 or 8 times throughout the day to make sure I am on track. I know that checking in with God and my heart would be a much better way to measure myself, but the weight and the numbers on the scale are so much more tangible and easier to control. My prayer is that I would see my worth as a child of God, loved, redeemed and accepted. I want to break free from finding confidence in the flesh and how much that flesh weighs.
Amen, Lynn! Thank you for sharing. May God continue to bless you richly! By His Holy Spirit we can do as you have written.
The “Who I am in Christ…” promise I’m holding onto today is “I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.” I need to recite Romans 8:28 in this season of my life when so much has happened to make me feel defeated.
Thank you for this devotion today, it spoke straight into my heart and put a balm on my heart. I deal with daily migraines and fibromyalgia and lately I’ve been feeling completely broken and done. I’m blessed by my husband and two kids but I’m often misguided by satan’s lies to believe after the pain and working full time with a long commute… I’m just not good enough as a wife nor mother. Satan’s lies tell me my family deserves so much more.
Today I’m holding onto “I am free from condemnation. I cannot be separated from God’s love.” Romans 8:31–39. I will not compare myself to how well I think anyone else at work is doing (compared to me) nor other mothers and wives. God made me and knows exactly who I am so I am trusting that whatever I lack… I am enough in Him. Thank you for your words today, truly.
Thank you, Nicole! I really appreciate your statement: ” I will not compare myself to how well I think anyone else at work is doing (compared to me)…” I am 59 years of age and work in soft-lines at K-Mart. I am older than most of my co-workers who put back returns, clothes from the fitting room, strays and straighten the clothes on tables and racks. It seems I work more slowly than my younger co-workers. I play that “game” that you mentioned above – especially lately – there has been so much to do – so many returns and clothes at the fitting rooms, and so many messy tables and racks. I often have to tell myself, “I can only do what I can do.” I am just now thinking, “God knew my capabilities when He provided this job.” Very thankful for that. 🙂 I like to straighten , and had often thought I would really like a job that allowed me pick clothes up off the floor and straighten things. Wow! There was actually a job like that! 🙂 I have been doing it for a little over a year and a half. There are other responsibilities, too. Thank you so much for helping me remember that I mustn’t compare myself to my co-workers, and remember Jesus, by Holy Spirit, enables me to to do what is necessary. I can do my best ( and don’t always do that 🙁 ) .
Precious sister in Christ: May you know fully the comforting love of our wonderful, all-knowing Heavenly Father; the love of Jesus Who can relate to our weaknesses. Here is Hebrews 4: 15-16 in the AMPLIFIED BIBLE:
“For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. 16 “Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures} and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Here is Hebrews 5:7-9 “In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which he not only wanted but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that *He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father]. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered. 9 And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him. [Isa. 45:17]
Wow! These verses speak! We are well equipped to stand against the lies of the enemy, the world and our flesh because of Jesus having been perfectly equipped, and then sacrificing His life for us. He went through a bunch of hard stuff when He was on this earth, and now He lives to ever-intercede for us – understanding what we are going through. Praise Him! This is only part of what it speaks.
If anyone has anything to add, please do so.
May God continue to bless us all richly with His grace, mercy, hope, wisdom and all with which He so desires to bless us. Please forgive us for ever hindering Your move in our lives and help us to really let You fully love us – whatever that might mean for us individually. Thank You for Your sacrifice for each and every one of us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Today when insecurities creep in I will remind myself that they are lies that Satan wants me to believe! I will say out loud that I rebuke him and his lies. I am a child of God and I am dearly loved and accepted. Comparison is the thief of Joy!
Thank you so much for this message today. I think most of us do this so often we don’t even realize we’re doing it. We allow Satan to slowly chip away our armor. Well thank you for the tools we need to put our armor back on and stand strong in the Lord.
Thank you, LaTonya! I am really thinking about your statement: “We allow Satan to slowly chip away our armor.” Good thing Jesus is all those parts of the armor to us – Satan can’t do Him in in the least. 🙂 We must not (as Ephesians 4:27) give the devil (or the world, or our flesh) a foothold. Let’s clothe ourselves in that armor daily and indeed stand strong in the Lord. May God continue to bless you richly!
Thank you for sharing God’s promises. I needed to hear this today.
Would love to win your book to share with a friend.
Comparison…a trap I so easily can get caught in…daily! Instead I need to focus on God’s Truths about me! God is bigger! 🙂
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I agree with it all and the attitude we should have, but I think the real test comes when we (unexpectedly) find ourselves in these circumstances that make us compare and devalue ourselves. It does take major perseverance, discipline, and practice to develop an automatic attitude of looking UP, and not across at other people- and be content wherever we are with whatever we have, regardless of how ahead other people may seem.
Yes, Karol! I especially like these thoughts you shared: “It does take major perseverance, discipline, and practice to develop an automatic attitude of looking UP, and not across at other people- and be content wherever we are with whatever we have, regardless of how ahead other people may seem.” Thank you for sharing. The phrase, “…not across at other people – …” really sticks out. We must stop looking at others in comparison, and look to God for perspective. May God continue to bless you richly!
I keep reminding myself (1) I am a child of the One True King – Amen! and (2) Comparison kills contentment (I heard this from a Wendy Pope video, but not sure if she was quoting someone). Comparing myself to others will destroy the contentment I have in my life.