Comparing for Affirmation

Stop judging and evaluating yourself, for this is not your role. Above all, stop comparing yourself with other people. This produces feelings of pride or inferiority; sometimes, a mixture of both. I lead each of My children along a path that is uniquely tailor-made for him or her. Comparing is not only wrong; it is also meaningless.

Don’t look for affirmation in the wrong places: your own evaluations, or those of other people. The only source of real affirmation is My unconditional Love. Many believers perceive Me as an unpleasable Judge, angrily searching out their faults and failures. Nothing could be farther from the truth! I died for your sins, so that I might clothe you in My garments of salvation. This is how I see you: radiant in My robe of righteousness. When I discipline you, it is never in anger or disgust; it is to prepare you for face-to-Face fellowship with Me throughout all eternity. Immerse yourself in My loving Presence. Be receptive to My affirmation, which flows continually from the throne of grace.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” —Luke 6:37

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. —Isaiah 61:10

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights . —Proverbs 3:11–12
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How man of us do this EVERY day? I know I do. We all compare ourselves to those around us wether it be our peers, our co-workers, our family members or models we see on TV. We all are seeking some sort of approval from places other than God. But why? God is our one true judge. He has made us all different, therefore no matter how long we compare and wish we had something else, we never will because it was simply not meant to be that way in Gods eyes.

But remember, God does not get angry at us when we do this, He just simply picks us up and teaches us what matters on our real judgement day.

When we honor and praise God for what He has given us, all of the stress and worry, that we get from comparing, disappears. Now wouldn't that be amazing? Never fear, we can start it today. When you find your self comparing or self analyzing, seek God's wisdom. Pray to God for the knowledge to know that He is our one true judge.

In the Presence

Keep your eyes on Me! Waves of adversity are washing over you, and you feel tempted to give up. As your circumstances consume more and more of your attention, you are losing sight of Me. Yet I am with you always, holding you by your right hand. I am fully aware of your situation, and I will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear.

Your gravest danger is worrying about tomorrow. If you try to carry tomorrow’s burdens today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is in the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. —Psalm 73:23

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. —1 Corinthians 10
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Stop thinking about the future. God is the only one who knows what our future holds, so why waste time thinking about something we cannot change right now? If we keep our eyes on God and let ourselves feel Him holding our hand, we will be able to handle anything that the present or future brings us. God promises that He will not give us more than we can bear. Meditate on that. Everything that we feel is difficult, God knows that we can overcome. He does not want us to fail.

Live within today and let God take care of tomorrow.

Secret Things

I am leading you, step by step, through your life. Hold My hand in trusting dependence, letting Me guide you through this day. Your future looks uncertain and feels flimsy—even precarious. That is how it should be. Secret things belong to the Lord, and future things are secret things. When you try to figure out the future, you are grasping at things that are Mine. This, like all forms of worry, is an act of rebellion: doubting My promises to care for you.

Whenever you find yourself worrying about the future, repent and return to Me. I will show you the next step forward, and the one after that, and the one after that. Relax and enjoy the journey in My Presence, trusting Me to open up the way before you as you go.

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. —Deuteronomy 29:29

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. —Psalm 32:8

He Will Give Us Rest

Rest in My Presence, allowing Me to take charge of this day. Do not bolt into the day like a racehorse suddenly released. Instead, walk purposefully with Me, letting Me direct your course one step at a time. Thank Me for each blessing along the way; this brings Joy to both you and Me. A grateful heart protects you from negative thinking. Thankfulness enables you to see the abundance I shower upon you daily. Your prayers and petitions are winged into heaven’s throne room when they are permeated with thanksgiving. In everything give thanks, for this is My will for you.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. —Colossians 4:2

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. —1 Thessalonians 5:18