Content in your own race..

I’ve written a lot on this blog about being content in yourself and how it’s probably not that great if you compare yourselves to others around you – especially when you are comparing your constant video to the photo that others show you..

As easy as it is to say you shouldn’t compare, it can be difficult also. It starts with the little things, like she shoes she may be wearing.. or the bag that she has to bigger things like the car they are driving or the relationship that they are in that you wish you had.. These bigger things can lead to being discontented, feelings of resentment and definitely jealously. I am always actively trying to be content in my own race and in the journey that I am on with myself. Recently it has been hard but I am definitely trying.

(Almost) Every day I get daily devotionals in the form of Today’s Word with Joel and Victoria (Osteen). I usually read them and go on through my day, sometimes reading it a few times again at work so it resonates, and then there are days like today where something is sent and it hits the nail right on the head.

Be content in your own race. Don’t run in someone else’s lane. We all have our own lanes with our own obstacles and our own challenges that we need to overcome. Our race will be different from someone else’s and that is okay, but comparing theirs to yours when you don’t know what they’re going through or what they have been through is not.

I have included the devotional below.. It was a real kick up the bum for me as sometimes I forget I need to just be content being me.. In my lane.. Doing my own thing..

 

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
(Hebrews 12:1–2, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

It’s easy to be tempted to go through life competing with everyone around us when we see someone who’s more talented, better looking or has more gifts. Instead of running our race and being comfortable with who we are, oftentimes, we feel inferior and think, “I’ve got to catch up to them.” The problem with this unhealthy competition is that it’s a never-ending cycle.

There will always be someone ahead of us. But, it’s a very freeing thing when you realize, “I’m not competing with you. I don’t have to have as big a house as my neighbor to feel good about myself. I don’t have to keep up with my co-worker. I don’t have to be a certain size. I don’t have to have as many Christmas lights outside. No, I understand that I’m not in competition with my friend, my neighbor or my co-worker. Instead, I’m going to be the best me that I can possibly be.”

Contentment is an attitude God can work with. When you focus on being who God made you to be and focus on running your own race, that’s when you’ll see things happen. That’s when you’ll rise up higher and position yourself for every spiritual blessing He has in store for you!

Let’s work on being content..x

~ by originalapplejunkie on December 5, 2014.