Do You Measure Up?

MEASURING UP.


Did anyone other than me just feel like hiding from those words?

I constantly compare myself to others around me and I make sure to point out to myself exactly what they have that I don’t, OR vice versa. (oh, that one hurt someone’s toes, including my own)
Do you measure up to _____? or Does _____measure up to you?

This has caused much issue in my life, past & present, and I’m just guessing here, but if I don’t catch it soon and cage it, it will probably fly straight into my future and cause some problems there too.

I have always felt a need to be more. be better. be greater. grander. prettier.

I grew up with 2 sisters and a brother, so attention was hard to come by at times. So I say that’s where it stems from, but I’m no shrink. :-)

I have this inexorable need to be someone’s all-someone’s favorite-someone’s love.

And in this crazy world where everyone is competing with everyone, and you are always going to be outdone by someone in some way, there is no way around the occasional envious feelings.

BUT- we can deal with it in a healthy and TRUTHFUL way when that jealousy finds its way into our days, hearts, minds and souls.

Lately I have been able to feel the feeling as it begins- like a burning bubble rising inside of me- and what’s weird is when I realize what I am feeling, I then get flushed and hot with embarrassment that I, an adult Christian woman, am having thoughts so childish and envious.

I think it is good that I catch myself feeling this way. It means that since I know what to look for, I can stop it from causing me to feel angry due to my insecurity.

He has equipped me with all that I need in this life to survive and glorify Him. So why do we keep striving for “stuff”, “things”, “titles”, etc., that do not belong to us? That we do not NEED?

Last night at church Brother Tommy was preaching on contentment. Wow, what a home run he hit with that one!

Peace & Contentment

His message began out of 1 Timothy 6:1-12

The key verses that I ‘gleaned’ from that passage:

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

(These are just thoughts & notes on the subject, not identically what he said)

What in the world is it going to take to make us happy!?!
Well, once I get ____ like she has I will be happy. Or once I reach ____ position, then I will be happy. Why, why, why do we keep on looking to be HAPPY?

I want to be content with the life that He has blessed me with- cause in all reality, WE DON’T DESERVE ANYTHING WE HAVE ANYWAY! It is so hard to grasp this when we are so caught up on the person next door and the big, new thing they just rolled into their driveway with and we think of how hard we have worked and blah, blah, blah...So the key is to not be caught up on it!

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

And as Tommy pointed out, contentment is to be learned- it is not going to happen overnight and it is not just putting up with it- If we “just put up with it”, we will have pent up anger, bitterness, and misery. Become satisfied with what God has given us- He knows better than us, and He gave us exactly what we need!

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13

He is our source of contentment and happiness and strength!

So back to the beginning of my “ranting” post ;-)

Measuring Up. STOP TRYING TO MEASURE UP! Be content- The extra things that we “want” (and don’t need), that’s where our discontentment and unhappiness comes from.

I’m not saying all this because I know it all and I’ve mastered this concept and I’m pointing fingers…I’m saying this because I am LEARNING it myself and I want to share it so that maybe, someone else can find contentment too, and stop striving to be someone they aren’t, or something they’re not. I’ve fought this battle my whole life-I’m ready to cage it up---and let contentment take flight into my future!

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

He is glorious…Praise Him today for being our Source of Contentment