Who am I up against?

As I was washing dishes last night, the kids were in the shower, so I had some quiet time. As I was standing there, half hunched over the sink from a busy day, I stared blankly as the hot water spread down over my hands covering them in warmth, observing the soapy water swirling in the sink. A flood of peace swept over my subconsciousness. I just started praying...thanking God for His goodness...His mercy...calling people out by name before the glorious throne of my Savior...then for forgiveness. 

How often I fall into a trap gripped by its steel jaws only to find myself not even realizing I'm there crippled by its snare. The trap of denying my self-worth...I'm not good enough...the trap of comparison...if only I was...

Beside the Lord, nobody knows me better than I know me. I know what is in my heart...I know all that I've done and seen and felt. My past is a picture of grace flawlessly painted with the quintessential brush strokes of Jesus Christ. 

As I look at other Christians, I am only seeing what is on the outside. I am only getting a glimpse of what they want me to see. I see their great works, their soft words, their smiles, etc. I am seeing their highlight reel so to speak. I am seeing them at their best for the most part. Then I see my heart, still stained from this world and my past. True, I am a new person through Christ, but still stuck in the old body. So, I take the absolute worst part of myself and compare it to another's best. That is is where doubt and self-worth start to creep in.

Then I thought, don't we do that with each other, with the ones we love the most? We take their weaknesses and compare it with someone else's strengths as if that is fair by any stretch of the imagination. 

On the flip side, we tend to compare ourselves to justify what we are or are not doing. "Well I'm not as bad as him/her..." "At least I'm doing this...they're not..." "She/he does this...so it must not be too bad..." 

Where is our standard? Are we allowing the world to dictate where our standards come from? Are you making the comparison of others an idol in your heart? Our self-worth is not found in anything of this world, but only in the precious blood of the Lamb. God has set the standard for our way of life. God has set the precedent of what He calls holy and who he finds worthy of His kingdom. It is only found through Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 10:12-15

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly.

Our desire should be to please God, not people. I want my standard to be His standard. I want my desires to be His desires. I want my life to reflect His life. I want my self-worth to rest in Him and Him alone. 

Galatian 1:10 "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

God knows each and everyone of us intimately. He knows our hearts better than we do. Yet, in spite of that, He loves us and wants to be there for us. He is concerned with you and your life. He feeds the sparrows and clothes the earth with beautiful flowers, how much more do you mean to Him! He calls you by name. Rest in Him. 

I will consider the lilies...(Matthew 6:28).