Girl Talk: The 5 Minute Comparison Game

Fact: I want to keep improving myself and everything around me for as long as I’m living. 

 

One way I work to improve myself is by spending time in my Bible.  Now that doesn’t always mean my actual bible.  That often times means using my Bible app for 5 or 10 minutes (usually just 5) while I wait for whatever it is I’m waiting for: food to cook, a kid to bring up their laundry, everyone to get to the couch for movie night, a pot to boil, etc.

As easy as it is to sneak in Bible time just 5 minutes at a time, it’s also equally as easy to let corrupt thoughts enter our minds, just 5 minutes at a time.

The thoughts I’m thinking of specifically are those of comparison. 

Let me take a minute to admit that I'd like to think I’m writing this for all of you and that I don’t have a problem here.  That’s just not true though, I do have a problem.

5 minutes on Pinterest suddenly makes me feel like I need to paint something or tear out a wall in my home to open things up a bit, because well, it looked good on Pinterest!  Ugh, OMG, my home isn’t good enough!  I am so embarrassed to live HERE. 

5 minutes in a conversation with a friend about how they talked to one of their friends and all of a sudden I’m feeling like OUR friendship isn’t a true friendship.   I mean how could be?  Because everything they just said makes it sound like they are so much closer with the other friend than they are with me.  Besides, that other friend finds out everything way before I do.  Hmm, I must not be that important to her!  I must be boring because her conversation with so-and-so sounds so much deeper/better/more fun than this one we are having! I give up trying.

5 minutes with my nose in a fashion magazine and I’m no longer in love with the clothes in my closet that I loved so much the day I bought them, or even yesterday for that matter!  I am horrible at fashion, just horrible! And I'm fat, but I'll worry about that when I'm done eating this eggless cookie dough..  OH brother, I need a stylist!  Maybe I’ll get one of those online stylists to do the shopping for me and send me things that will make me look amazing.  Yeah, that'll fix it!

Followed by:  Wait… I can’t afford that.  Oh how I hate that ALL our money goes so quickly each month.  All my friends are so perfect and rich because they NEVER have these thoughts or struggles like I do! Oh their husbands must make $XXX,XXX for a salary.. and it goes ON AND ON AND ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN. 

Girls, I don’t always feel like this, but there are times I do.  It happens little by little.  5 minutes at a time.  I think you probably feel like this too occasionally.  Maybe we could just pray for each other to be content and happy with ourselves and our current situations, whatever they are?  God Knows.

Little by little, just 5 minutes at a time, my bible tells me:

2 Corinthians 10:12 ESV

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

 

Galatians 1:10 ESV

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 2:8 AMP

 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God.

Philippians 2:3 ESV

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.