It Starts Small

Today’s scripture is a prayer Jesus prayed before He was crucified. All of John 17 is Jesus’ prayer before going to the cross to lay His life down for you and me. I encourage you to read the entire chapter, but for right now we will focus on verse 16. Jesus intercedes on our behalf. He asks the Father not only to protect us but for us to be aware that we are not of this world, just as He is not of this world.

We are separated from this world and we are to continue that separation. When the world sees us, we are unique and different. You are not what statistics say you are and you do not seem to conform to this world’s behavior or customs.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.

Romans 12:1

When we received Christ as our Savior, we became born again in our spirit and we are different because we have the Holy Spirit on the inside and the world does not. You have the greater One in you and the world does not. You were created different on purpose. We sadly get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. Do not fall into this trap. We all have different assignments. Comparing ourselves to each other destroys our ability to stay in faith in trust what God has call each of us to do.

This is a weapon of the enemy. He works day and night to get us to compare each other to us. Why? Because he wants you to feel small and insignificant. God has called you to move forward in the things He has planned for you and shine in your anointing He has placed over your life. Can I encourage you to shine where you are? Can I encourage you in this truth that you are not a “nothing” or a “nobody” and that you being different is not a curse, but a blessing?

God calls us to move forward with the things He has for us and to shine in that anointing. He has a place in our lives and for our lives. WE can stand in this truth today and we will begin to see that being different is a blessing and not a disadvantage!

Thing so to Ponder:

• Have you gotten caught up in comparing yourself to others?
• Do you believe the lies that you are a “nothing” and a “nobody” because the world labels you this?
• How can you combat those lies today? Do you understand your worth and value to the Lord and to Him you are everything and a someone?
• What about today’s scripture encourages or challenges your heart?