Do you feel like you have a calling to do something in your life? Where did this come from? This week was a great week for me as God just gave me a gentle reminder that it's still always about Him. This week, Joby Martin from Eleven22 spoke about comparison and how it kills God's calling on your life. I think with the rise in connectivity and technology, comparison is something that is almost unavoidable in today's society. Today I wanted to write about the three things most people compare: Their past, others, and their future.
How many of you look back today and say "Oh man, five years ago I had a great body," or "Back when I was in college I did some really stupid things." The past can be a good tool in regards to helping you learn, but comparing today to your past is often something that can hurt God's calling on your life if it is improperly viewed. One thing that many non-believers have trouble with is the fact that their past makes them feel unworthy of forgiveness. This is the trick of the devil. No matter your past, no matter what makes you feel unworthy, no matter the reminder that the devil keeps giving you saying you're not good enough to be God's child....remind him of Jesus! The past can also hinder God's calling on our lives because maybe your past is fantastic. Maybe you won super bowls, or were the prom queen. These occurrences could make you boastful. Your successes just as much as your failures can shield you from your Heavenly Father. We have nothing to boast over because everything that happens to you is a gift from God. We have nothing to be insecure about because our past does not define who we are, but rather it defines even more of the grace given to us through Jesus Christ!
Comparing yourselves to others is something that I used to have a very difficult time with. If you don't know, golf was always my life. I practiced really hard and all I wanted to do was play on the PGA Tour. After an injury, I was unable to pursue my dream. Have you ever had a big hit like that? What was your reaction? I blamed God for a while, and then I turned and blamed myself because of my disobedience to Him. That's a big issue I had for the longest time with "religion," I thought it was all works based. When I finally realized and understood that it's not works based and that God had a great plan for my life, the comparison was no more. I'm glad I learned this lesson because funny enough my college roommate just won the PGA Tour event in Mexico today....Years ago I would have been envious of his success, now I simply am cheerful that he is doing so well and that I equally am following the plan that God has for me.
The last thing that you could compare is your future. If you're like me, you probably have an idea in your head for where you're going to be in five years or more. You probably have a plan for what your 40s are going to look like, or what your next job is going to be. The problem with this thinking is that our wants and desires are sometimes bigger than our abilities, but more importantly our wants and desires are exactly that....ours. Is what you want and what you desire in line with what God wants for you? Is willful and cheerful obedience to God's word part of that future?
This week, I challenge you to stay in the present moment. I challenge you to look at where you are right now and ask yourself...is this where God wants me? If you don't know where God wants you, there is a very easy place to find direction: The Gospels. God is so much for you and for your success in fulfilling His purpose. The more you align with Him, the more you are in line with your purpose, and the more you are joyous with whatever circumstances come your way!
Have a great week!!!
Cameron
How many of you look back today and say "Oh man, five years ago I had a great body," or "Back when I was in college I did some really stupid things." The past can be a good tool in regards to helping you learn, but comparing today to your past is often something that can hurt God's calling on your life if it is improperly viewed. One thing that many non-believers have trouble with is the fact that their past makes them feel unworthy of forgiveness. This is the trick of the devil. No matter your past, no matter what makes you feel unworthy, no matter the reminder that the devil keeps giving you saying you're not good enough to be God's child....remind him of Jesus! The past can also hinder God's calling on our lives because maybe your past is fantastic. Maybe you won super bowls, or were the prom queen. These occurrences could make you boastful. Your successes just as much as your failures can shield you from your Heavenly Father. We have nothing to boast over because everything that happens to you is a gift from God. We have nothing to be insecure about because our past does not define who we are, but rather it defines even more of the grace given to us through Jesus Christ!
Comparing yourselves to others is something that I used to have a very difficult time with. If you don't know, golf was always my life. I practiced really hard and all I wanted to do was play on the PGA Tour. After an injury, I was unable to pursue my dream. Have you ever had a big hit like that? What was your reaction? I blamed God for a while, and then I turned and blamed myself because of my disobedience to Him. That's a big issue I had for the longest time with "religion," I thought it was all works based. When I finally realized and understood that it's not works based and that God had a great plan for my life, the comparison was no more. I'm glad I learned this lesson because funny enough my college roommate just won the PGA Tour event in Mexico today....Years ago I would have been envious of his success, now I simply am cheerful that he is doing so well and that I equally am following the plan that God has for me.
The last thing that you could compare is your future. If you're like me, you probably have an idea in your head for where you're going to be in five years or more. You probably have a plan for what your 40s are going to look like, or what your next job is going to be. The problem with this thinking is that our wants and desires are sometimes bigger than our abilities, but more importantly our wants and desires are exactly that....ours. Is what you want and what you desire in line with what God wants for you? Is willful and cheerful obedience to God's word part of that future?
This week, I challenge you to stay in the present moment. I challenge you to look at where you are right now and ask yourself...is this where God wants me? If you don't know where God wants you, there is a very easy place to find direction: The Gospels. God is so much for you and for your success in fulfilling His purpose. The more you align with Him, the more you are in line with your purpose, and the more you are joyous with whatever circumstances come your way!
Have a great week!!!
Cameron
Comments
Post a Comment