christian living, comparison, faith walk, freedom in Christ, God's Word, inner critic, Inner Critic, perseverance
Are you ever overwhelmed by what’s next? I was thinking about this – particularly since I live in an empty nest and my calendar is different than it used to be. I’ve traded school schedules for writing deadlines, speaking engagements and more ministry opportunities at my local church. But guess what? I still have overwhelmed days.
I used to think I would get to the place in my faith walk where overwhelm would disappear. That hasn’t been my journey. I believe the inner critic’s favorite lie about our faith is that transformation might not happen. I might not be “good enough” to be transformed.
However, I’m learning over and over again that God calls us to renew our minds – not once – but continually. The inner critic wants us to believe that if we haven’t got it figured out by now – what’s the point of trying?
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NASB95)
Have you ever run into someone you haven’t seen in a while, and although they’re the same, there’s something different about them? You can’t pinpoint the difference, but it’s pleasant and easy to connect with.
Romans 12 encourages us to give our bodies and minds to God as a living and holy sacrifice. Verse two helps us understand how to do that. There are several two-word phrases that show a directive or outcome: do not, but be, so that, you may, and which is.
- Do not. Do not be conformed to the world. If not conformed, then what?
- But be transformed. Okay, but how? By the renewal of your mind. It’s a good directive to have a renewed mind, but Paul doesn’t stop there.
- So that. I love to read the phrase “so that” in the Bible. It means we get a reason for what was said before. Here, it’s so that you may prove the will of God.
- Which is explains that it is the will of God, which is good, pleasing and perfect.
I learned that the person I hadn’t seen in a while had been allowing God’s Holy Spirit to help them change from the inside out through prayer and the practice of making wise, Biblical choices. A renewed mind changes the whole body, and it’s something others notice and want to copy or be like. That’s transformation!
LORD, may I apply the truth of your Word and be made different so that others will want to walk with you and learn to discern your will, too.
Journal prompt: Think about conforming vs being transformed. Write what you think. What thoughts would you like to see transformed? Write them down. Then ask the Lord to show you how He wants to transform and renew your mind.
(devotional excerpt from Freedom From the Inner Critic 14 Devotionals and Journal Prompts by Carol Feil)
comparison, faith walk, freedom in Christ, grace, inner critic, Inner Critic, should, trust
Where do you turn when not enough haunts your thoughts? When inadequacy weighs you down? What is your first response?
Often, after I drag myself down with inner negative self-talk. I would hide from others, sometimes literally or figuratively. I put on the mask of “all-is-good” in my world. I didn’t want to appear weak or feel exposed.
Have you felt this, too?
My saving grace? God. He has used many individuals and resources to help me see Him as my rock, and my enough-ness. A wise friend challenged me to run my to-do list by Him before I start any tasks. Whoa! What a concept! Instead of my go-to prayer: Lord, bless this choice I am making. I was encouraged to ask Him – What would you have me do today? What do you see as priority?
I so easily get down on myself for not being enough – especially if my to-do’s and concerns aren’t in place before I even seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance.
I’m still learning to run to the Rock first. He is greater than all my thoughts, desires, emotions, and stronger than any storms of life. I don’t have to “be enough” before I go to Him. He already is. Read that again: He already is enough even though I don’t always “feel” this truth.
My prayer for you: allow Him to show how much He loves you. Go to Him first in all things. Believe that He perfects our “not enough ” and let His “always enough” be your first response. Trust the facts of Him over the feelings of you. Speak the truth of who He is and what He can do over your negative self talk.
Use this check list:
How do I make His “always enough” my first response to my feelings of “not enough”?
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Praise Him for who He is. Repeat a verse that talks about His greatness. Acknowledging who He is helps reframe who we can be in Him.
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Pray/talk to Him. Tell Him how inadequate you feel. Sing your heart out.
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Purpose in your heart to speak truth over yourself. Pray that His truth would penetrate your feelings of “not enough” and be replaced with the truth that “He is always and forever enough” for us.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
My 14-day devotional, Freedom from the Inner Critic, is designed to help you do exactly that. Each day brings Scripture, gentle reflection, and practical truth to counter the “not enough” voice—so you can walk in the freedom Christ offers.
[Get Your Copy Here]
christian living, comparison, faith walk, grace, humility, impatience, life experience, relationships
I recently visited a friend in Prescott, Arizona. On our walk around the neighborhood, I stopped to capture an image of the blossoming beauties by the roadside. This high desert area is not just home to cactus, but oaks, cottonwoods, pines and junipers. Rugged granite outcroppings also dot the landscape.
The cactus, like the boulders, stand in contrast to the green of the trees around them. They are also prickly, spiny and tough. The flower, soft by contrast, reminds me the cactus has a purpose. It is food for many critters of the high desert. Fruit grows where the flower blooms, right between the thorns.
I admit, I haven’t always appreciated cacti. I see their thorns and characterize them as worthy of a wide berth. But I’m reminded that their exterior purposefully protects the fruit for the animals equipped to eat it, in spite of the spiny thorns.
So what do you think of when you see a cactus? Do you see danger or resilience? Do you see a meal or a menace? Are they prickly or purposeful?
It was good for me to reconsider and contemplate this spiky, desert dweller. What I know about myself is, I am too often, too quick to judge and steer clear. I’ve even met a few prickly people, and have been one more than I like to admit. Ouch!
I’m thankful I was reminded to slow down, reconsider and contemplate God’s purposes for his creation, prickly or not.
We’ve all been created on purpose and with purpose.
This is my prayer: Lord, I want to live with and see your purpose in all of your creation – whether the prickly pear cactus, or people that seem prickly on the outside. Help me to contemplate and consider all you have made, and respond kindly. Let me live my purpose for You with passion and sincerity.
“For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16 ESV
christian living, comparison, faith walk, God first, grace, trust
But God, she’s prettier, more talented, a better mom, wife, sister, friend …
I used to think only the full blooming flowers earned the label of “beautiful”. What about you? When I look at a fully blossomed flower, I can clearly see it’s at a different stage of growth than the two tightly curled and not-yet-opened flowers near it. And yet, I compared. I labeled one beautiful and the others, well, not.
Why do I think and believe such things? This is the six million dollar question!
As I’ve watched my yard grow through seasons and stages, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the formation of and the revealing of the “full bloom.” Like I did with flowers, I have compared myself to other women, determining my own worth by how I felt in contrast to another. It sounds crazy as I write it, but it’s so easy to fall into this comparison trap. Perhaps the crazier thing is, I wasn’t even comparing myself to their same season of life.
Like Eve in the first garden, how easy it was to listen to the serpents lies. He loves to get us distracted and focused on the wrong thing. Trying to measure up, losing sight of WHOSE we are. We are beautiful daughters of the Most High King, Our ABBA father is the CREATOR of all things – and He called all His creation good. We are good & we are beautiful.
I don’t know where you are on the mental rollercoaster of comparison, but I hope you’ll stop and consider if there are some mind habits that could use a perspective shift. Let’s get off the white knuckle ride of comparison. I want you to celebrate where the Lord’s brought you as He works in and through you. Comparison has only ever made me sick and it’s a bigtime confidence drain. Instead, embrace the beautiful stage of growth you are currently living, knowing God uses all of it for His honor and our good. Do you believe that, friend? I pray that you do.
Make this your prayer: Jesus, I want to embrace every aspect of growth you have for me. You, God, designed and created all things. You created me! Help me, when I fight hard against the season I am in. Forgive me for thinking I “know” better than you. Remind me that I can trust the growth you are bringing to my life, even if I don’t understand it. Lord, let me trust you and leave comparison behind.
