Hi Sweet Friends,
It’s crazy the way women compare themselves to other women. Simply walking into a room full of people is sometimes all it takes. We compare hairstyles, waist sizes, education levels, fashion senses, career successes, you name it. Often this happens without our ever giving words to it all—we subconsciously compare and figure out where we rank. It’s ridiculous. And it grieves the Lord.
When we’re busy comparing ourselves to the Heather Homemakers, Brittany Brilliants, Lexie Lovelies or Gwen Gardeners, we downsize ourselves in our own eyes. We unintentionally remove our own unique giftings and value and place ourselves on shaky, dangerous ground.
Your Week 6 assignment is to…read Chapter 42, My Comparison Issues. As you’ve probably noticed, we won’t be reading the book in order—instead, I will be picking and choosing from among my favorite chapters (and that’s sort of hard!). But I’m praying and trusting God to lead us.
Chapter 23 Excerpt from Prayers for a Woman's Soul
(Page 202) …Whether we compare our bodies, our families, our jobs, our callings, or where we are on the journey, the temptation can be so subtle we barely recognize it. But it’s dangerous ground we would be wise to avoid.
This week’s verse:
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. (Galatians 6:4)
This week’s questions:
- Have you recently made yourself miserable by comparing yourself to someone else?
- Are you willing to ask God to help you resist comparing yourself so that you can become free to love and appreciate exactly the way God made you?
Half of the battle with comparison is simply being aware that we do it. So this week, let’s pray that God will reveal to us when we subtly (and sometimes not so subtly!) compare ourselves to others. Once we recognize that we’re comparing ourselves, we must resist, shift our focus, and repeat to ourselves “God, you did not call me to be her. You called me to be me.”
The other half of the battle is learning to love and appreciate ourselves just the way God made us. Each one of us is a beautiful, hand-made, unique woman who is loved, valued, and precious to our heavenly Father. We each possess God-given unique gifts, talents, and strengths. When we know and accept that, it becomes easier to accept ourselves. Which makes it easier to resist comparison.
I will be praying for you all week long as together you pray about your comparison issues. Meet me on the Prayers for a Woman's Soul community Facebook Page any time during the week and let me know your thoughts and experiences.
7 comments:
Oh WOW! I used the restroom at my friends home last night and the comparison trap snapped on me! In a split second I evaluated the paint, fixtures, wood work, window coverings, and calculated the cost of all the items. Then my flesh comforted its ugly self with the dust I saw. Oh God forgive me! Thank God for loving me and giving me the Holy Spirit to convict my heart of comparison. God bless you Julie as you encourage women to pray for themselves.
Be aware when you compare. This is my prayer with emphasis on AWARE. It easily slips in but if I am aware then I can deter those thoughts and feelings. I started COMPEL last week, the writers training with P31 Ministries. Talk about feeling inferior! The Lord spoke to me that I am there for training not for measuring up to anyone. Good timing in my life for Chapter 42. Thank you, Julie, for your book and these lessons. Barbara
How many others only have this issue surface when comparative criticism is leveled at them ? For some reason this issue nearly always arises out of the blue without any signs and really damages my spirit. This is something I treasure not doing having seen how it hurt others, it has been a prayerful goal not to do this..
This was a timely act of kindness. Yesterday I had a major pity party and the focus was all about me and how I don't measure up. Thank you for the words of encouragement.... and reminding me I am a child of God.
Why am I comparing when God made each of us as one individual. He made everyone how he wanted them to be. My purpose is not their purpose. I want to accept who I am and thank him for giving me a life to live in his words.
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This chapter literally brought me to tears, Julie. Growing up in a home with two very judgmental parents, I looked forward to weekends spent with grandparents who took me to church and encouraged me to be the person God created me to be. It's a challenge I've faced all my life and one I really need to get my arms around once and for all!
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