Measuring Up - Renee Swope (Girlfriends in God)

This article inspired me so much, I just had to post it on my site not to loose it.

"When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)

Do you ever compare yourself to other women and feel like you don't quite measure up? Maybe you feel like you're not as smart, pretty, fun, organized or as good at _______ as they are.
It is so easy to think that if we had more or knew more, we'd be secure. But the truth is, even people who "have it all" still struggle with feelings of insecurity. The Bible opens with the story of a woman who had everything but it still wasn't enough (Genesis 2).
God had established Eve's worth as His child and the crown of His creation. He also gave Eve every woman's desire: intimacy, beauty, security, significance, and purpose. Yet Satan conjured up feelings of insecurity by getting Eve to take her eyes off what she had and focus on what she didn't have.
Boy, can I relate. Like Eve, I've heard Satan's whispers telling me I'm not all I could be — or should be. One day I was reading her story in Genesis 2 and I noticed that his questions and suggestions were intended to plant seeds of doubt in Eve's heart. He wanted her to doubt God and herself.
The enemy's whispers tempted Eve to try to "be" more and "have" more by seeking significance apart from God's provision. He convinced her something was missing in her life and that the forbidden fruit would make her be "like God."
It was a foolish comparison, but all comparisons are. Yet don't we do it all the time? If only I was like her...if only I had a house like hers, a husband like hers, a job like hers...if only my children behaved like hers...If only _______, then I'd feel significant, satisfied and secure.
In today's key verse, Paul warns us that those who "measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, are not wise" (2 Cor. 10:12 NIV). Comparison will always leave us feeling like we don't measure up. We can try to do more and be more, yet it's never enough.
If only Eve had focused on who she was and what she had as a child of God. If only we could too.
Yet Satan wants us to focus on our flaws and feelings of inadequacy, then exhaust our energy figuring out how to hide them. But we don't have to go along with his schemes. Instead we need to equip ourselves to recognize his lies, refute his temptations with truth, and focus on God's acceptance, security, and significance. Then we can thank God for His provision and His promises that remind us of who we are in Him:
I am accepted...
Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.
I am secure...
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39 I am free from condemnation. I can't be separated from God's love.
Philippians1:6 I am confident God will complete the good work He started in me.
I am significant...
Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Author and psychologist, Dr. Neil T. Anderson says, "The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior (and beliefs) will begin to reflect your true identity!"
So, the next time we're tempted to use the measuring stick of comparison - let's commit to measure UP ↑ by focusing upward on Christ and who we are in HIM!

Lord, thank You that in Christ I'm chosen, holy, and dearly loved. When I'm tempted to measure up according to the world's standards or my foolish comparisons, help me recognize Satan's lies, refuse his temptations and rely on your truth about me instead. Remind me that such confidence as this is mine through Christ—not that I am competent in myself to claim anything for myself, but competence comes from You. In Jesus' name, Amen. (Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 5:9; 2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

Always On Top

So many challenges, so many words spoken, but God stays faithful. As human beings we face so many things which disappoint us very easily but yet again God stays faithful.

What we have to realise is that trials come and go, but are we mature enough to face it? Are we mature enough to count it all joy (James 1:2)? God wants us to always be on top and not down there. Deuteronomy 28:13 tells us; “The Lord will make you the head and not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”

WOW!!! How awesome is that? A promise of God, never to be broken. I think most of the time we are disappointed by friends or family and it’s so hard to move on at times because you have put so much into that relationships(not saying you perfect), but you have put in some effort  and yet the enemy comes in like a flood. What do we need to do? We have to allow the Spirit of God to raise a standard against him(Isaiah 59:19).

We have to become still. We cannot fight back and act on our emotions. Believe me, I know it’s hard but God’s instruction is that if you want to always be on top, we have to be still.

"But I have stilled and quieted my soul." Psalm 131:2

When I became still yet sad, I shared my uneasiness with God but knew silence and stillness were things I needed to practice. During these times I heard God's gentle encouragement, "Shhh. Be still. It's okay to be silent. You don't have to say a word." My spirit felt renewed and at peace. In silence and stillness God united His heart with mine, allowing me to experience the rest I needed. As we fill the reservoir of our soul with true refreshment from God we learn to relax in the rhythms of His grace. We experience real peace and rest that only come from the silence and stillness of being with Him. We carry this refreshment with us as we face the challenges of our day.

Do you find it challenging to sit quietly with God? Ask Him to help you practice and enjoy silence and stillness. Your soul will find refreshing peace. God's rest is exactly what our restless soul needs.

Dear Lord, my soul is having a hard time being still. I lay down my resistance to silence, and commit my anxiety to You. I praise You in advance for what You are going to say to me in the silence. I thank You for the rest only You can give. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


In His Love
Leslene

Harness Free!!

Galatians 5:1

“Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let  anyone put a harness of slavery on you.”

har·ness (härns)

1. The gear or tackle, other than a yoke, with which a draft animal pulls a vehicle or implement.

2. Something resembling such gear or tackle, as the arrangement of straps used to hold a parachute to the body.

3. A device that raises and lowers the warp threads on a loom.

4. Archaic Armor for a man or horse.

tr.v. har·nessed, har·ness·ing, har·ness·es

For so long I have felt like a person who is continuously held back with a harness. You will see the one picture of a horse pulling a cart and it’s quite a heavy one. Don’t you feel as if you’re pulling one right now.     

If that is the way you feel, get rid of it right now because it is definitely holding you back. We cannot walk around with all that weight. The scripture says in Galatians 5:1 “Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.”

When you cannot let go of the things that is weighing you down, you will always be held captive like an animal working in the field always pulling, always pushing but getting nowhere. If you feel you are always second best to friends, I am telling you today, YOU ARE HELD CAPTIVE BY A HARNESS. Let go my friend, let go and don’t look back. We are in Christ, a new person, no longer in bondage, but FREE, or do you still want to be like Paul describes in Ephesians 2:

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Or are we what Paul says from verse 4

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions − it is by grace you have been saved.

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God −

9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

LET THE HARNESS GO TODAY AND EXPERIENCE REAL FREEDOM TODAY!!!

In His Love

Leslene

Consistency is the key to YOUR breakthrough!!

The words did not want to leave my mind. "Consistency is the key to YOUR breakthrough!!"
It was actually screaming at me and I started speaking to God. God was so clear about the word "consistent". He said if my household want to see continous breakthrough, we have to stay consistent when it comes to the word of God.
So many beautiful things are happening in our home and it's all because we stand firm when it comes to the word of God. I said to God that there are so many things we are struggling with especially me, and yet He blesses me. The Lord gave me a scripture about "when you abide in Me and My word abide in you, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. (John 8:32)
He said that we know the truth, yet we are not free. He made an example of a person who treats her husband or his wife terrible knowing what the word says, that you must love your husband/wife which is the truth, but he/she is not free beause they do not operate in the truth.
In order for us to live a life of truly being free we have to be consistent in all we do in order for us to recieve our breakthrough.
This is something to ponder on hey? I am making a decision to be consistent, live the word, receive continual breakthrough and others will see that God is at work in my life.
I know it will take time to always live in truth but at the end of the day we will be successful. Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.

In His love
Leslene