Child of GodSample

Comparison

Have you ever felt like you’re just not good enough? What is behind this? Comparison. We often compare ourselves to others around us, and the truth is that people are better than us, and people are worse than us. With billions of people on this planet, we can exert our energy thinking about how we are better than others on a good day, and on a bad day, we can think about all the reasons we aren’t enough.

Isaiah 55:9 (NIV) says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” We are not good enough, yet God accepted us; Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). Have you noticed any thinking patterns that occur when you compare? It’s as if these thoughts are hiding in a secret compartment of your brain, creeping out when you get triggered. Though you thought you buried them, they rise to the surface again and again.

When you compare yourself to others or feel negative about yourself, are you typically in a negative space? We tend to have more positive thoughts, feelings, and behavior in a positive space. While in a negative space, our thoughts, feelings, and behavior become negative.

Let’s look at two initial steps we can follow to move back to a positive space.

Step 1- Recognize we’re in a negative space.
Step 2- Pray and use Scripture to help us move to a positive space.

God, Here I am again, comparing myself to others. I recognize I need to transform. Renew my mind and help me know Your will (Romans 12:2b). Amen.

Extra Credit:
Review the list you began last time regarding times you bring God into other roles. When you engaged in each act, were you in a positive or negative space? Were you comparing yourself to them or focusing on your primary role as a child of God?