We are stressed, depressed, anxious, and miserable. Why? God tells us we can cast our cares on him because he cares for us (1 Pet 5:7). So why is it that those of us who know Christ are still anxious, burned out, stressed out, or wrestling with doubt, pride, anxiety, or depression?
Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s because we often do it to ourselves. We watch, listen to, engage in, believe, and speak things over ourselves that have absolutely no business being in our sphere of existence. There is a reason Paul tells us in Phillippians:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
We welcome snares into our lives and bind our thoughts and minds with them. Today we are going to talk about comparison. Comparison leads to self-doubt, pride, jealousy, anxiousness, depression, anger, and even hate. There is no place for these things in our minds once we are saved by God. Yes, it is normal to feel the tinges of these things for a minute, but we should be able to shake them off pretty quickly. What I am here to talk about is the pervasive skewed perspectives we have allowed to create false views of ourselves and others, leading us away from God and his plan for us.
Women- we feel miserable about the way we look, yet we watch Real Housewives… We use the excuse it is entertaining, but we are watching women who value looks, money, power, and drama and slowly we start to believe that some of it is real and obtainable. If we are thin and pretty enough, we can be rich and famous. Their behavior which was once crazy is endearing. We find aspects of them we relate to and now they become part of our mental picture of what it is to be a woman.
Men- you are angry and frustrated at the state of the country, but you won’t turn off the 24-hour news cycle. You see the insanity of the far left, but instead of engaging in community, you withdraw more and isolate your family. You feel completely different from the rest, so you choose not to be part of anything, just protect what you have. The rest of the world is crazy, and you are better off without them.
Teens- you feel isolated from your peers, but you spend time watching social influencers that have millions of followers and think that that level of acceptance is normal, ideal, and achievable. You learn that if you say something disagreeable you will be shamed publically. So you go along with what the majority thinks is good, and compromise on your thoughts or intentions because you just want to be part of the group.
Let me ask you? Have you considered what you are listening to and watching is poisoning you? Feeding or destroying your sense of self? God has released us from pride and insecurity, yet most of us, every day, pick back up the chains of our bondage and engage in things we have absolutely no business being engaged in.
2 Corinthians 10:5: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
Ask God. Seek God. Pay attention to how you are feeling after you watch and listen and what you allow to be spoken over you.
This is not a joke, this is not a feel good practice, this is straigh Biblical command from Jesus to protect you from the snares of this world.
Ask for revelation on what is keeping you ensared, and LET IT GO. It may seem scary, or you may have reasons not to, but trust me. God’s way is always better. You are never ever going to be what you imaine as perfect, but you are chosen, redeemed and made whole by Christ. You need to bring all things before him and align your thoughts with him.
