John The Baptist
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
ISAIAH 26:3
Lately I’ve caught myself saying “How GREAT is our God!” a lot. It seems like every time I open a book or read something on Facebook, God has left a personal message just for me to read. Last week my co-leader, Jennifer asked me if I could write today’s post because our sweet Beverly couldn’t. So of course I said I could write it. But then once I read it, I knew the real reason I was asked. It was because God had to reinforce a lesson in me. Yes, I would’ve read this section anyway and probably gathered some great information, but when I have to write about God’s word, I am forced (in a good way!) to slow down, take apart what I’ve just read and really understand it.
Today Dineen talks about John The Baptist and wonders if he ever felt left out, dissed, short changed. Did he feel like he should be part of the Twelve men chosen to walk with Jesus? He certainly had a right to feel that way. If he chose to Compare himself to the other Twelve, he was just as able to follow and spread Christ’s word, but he didn’t. He never questioned or bemoaned his role in life. He was satisfied to do what was predestined for him and he did it with honor and grace.
Sadly, I cannot say the same for myself. I have compared myself to others my entire life. In junior high a list went around our school where you rated the girls in our class based on looks and popularity. I was rated #2. Not too shabby, but to my 12 year old brain, it was devastating. All I could do was think of myself as #2. From that point on, it was my number on all my sports jerseys. I owned the number 2. It was my mind set. I will always be second best to anyone that stands beside me.
As an adult, I still compare myself to others. And recently I’ve amped up my comparing. Am I as creative as that mom? No. Am I as wealthy as that person? Certainly not. Will I ever be? No, because I have to be the #2. But I learned something in this chapter about being #2, or what I perceive as #2…it’s my role in life and it’s a GOOD role. I don’t have to be the prettiest wife on the block or the Martha Stewart mom or even the Beth Moore or Joyce Meyer of women’s ministry! I can be ME. Sarah Jane Boyer. And that is a great thing to be because He created ME and He has me on the path He predestined for me. First, He gave me the ability to work with words. Then later on down the path, He urged me to start writing about His words. For the first time in my life I am doing something I really enjoy and know that it is my gift from God, which makes it all the more sweeter. And ya know what? I’m not going to think of myself as #2 anymore. I know I am first and foremost with God because I have begun to make Him first and foremost with me. I don’t need to compare myself to others because there is no comparison. We are all #1 to God and all for different reasons.
What a freeing thing this is to not have to feel like I need to mold myself into something I’m not just to fit into one group/category or another. As long as I am pleasing God, I am in the right group/category. Like John The Baptist, I am content to fulfill the role God has chosen for me and I will do it with grace and honor to Him.
So how GREAT is our God, huh? He took this lesson and brought it to me to write on so that I would slow down, listen to Him and KNOW that I am right where I am suppose to be and there is no need to compare myself with others like I have been doing. Thank you, God for the reinforcement!
Lets Pray:
Dear Lord, You knew I was struggling with comparison issues again and You brought this message right to me so that I would really sit up and listen. I pray that what I wrote will resonate with other ladies who read this post. Comparing ourselves with others is so harmful to our self esteem. Please show each and every one of our readers how important they are to You. Speak to them like You did to me and show them their special gifts that set them apart and make them #1 in Your eyes…the ONLY eyes that matter. In your son’s precious name, Amen.
Your Assignment:
Today, please share with us what your special gift from God is. Let’s praise God for the gifts He has put in us to share with the world!
Godspeed,
Sarah
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our next Women’s Online Bible Study “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan, begins January 6, 2013. To sign up for this Online Bible Study, click HERE and follow the instructions. You will also be given a link to where you can purchase this bible study. We’re looking forward to learning about this “Crazy Love” with you!!
We would LOVE to have your feedback on this study! Will you take a few minutes to complete the following survey? Your responses will help us create the best online bible study experience for you! CLICK THIS LINK to fill out the short 10 question form. Your responses are completely anonymous, I promise!! Thank you so much!
About Sarah Boyer
so thankful, sarah, that your heavenly Father continues to show you His love, and how precious you are in His sight. it is true that, when we hold the Truth in our hearts and minds, and we gauge ourselves by His standard, that we will KNOW His love. He first loved us! He sent His Son to redeem us, to save us, to rescue us! thank you for reminding us, too, sarah! <3
I am thankful too, Coleen. It is honestly a daily struggle for me to not feel jealous after comparing myself to others. But God is leading me away from that destructive thinking.
It's an amazing thing when you think about all of the billions of people there are on this earth, and we are still #1 in His eyes!!! BEAUTIFUL post, Sarah Jane Boyer!!!! 🙂
<3. Thank you, Christi!! And that is amazing to think of it that way!!
Sarah, I, too, used to compare myself to other women who were so domestic – -I don't sew, do crafts, crochet, if that is the way it is spelled. I don't enjoy doing those things. But, like you, I finally figured it out – -our gift is what we enjoy doing and it, benefits others at the same time. I think we have found our niche. Good points.
Beautifully said and written, Sarah! The wisest words I heard just recently were, "It doesn't matter what others think of you. It doesn't even matter what you think of you. What matters is what God thinks of you." And we are loved, accepted, adopted, blessed, chosen, forgiven and redeemed by Jesus and not because of anything we do. God loves us each that much. We are daughters of the Most High King. We are the jewels in His Crown. We are His delight. The list goes on and on. This is who we are in Jesus. Nothing compares to that and we all stand in this truth equally. Only in God's economy is this possible! God is awesome!
I, too, am not Marhta Stewart, I am totally craft challenged!! I don't have lots of money, I am certainly not the prettiest wife on the block either!! I have just recently become aware of how much I compare myself to others and had a slap upside the head from God!! Thank you Sarah for this, it brings it home to me again how much God DOES love me! Great blog Dear, just sayin………………………