1440 Minutes in a Day

1440 Minutes of Not Comparing but Living My Life

This month our focus of prayer is to not compare our lives with anyone else's.  To make the concerted effort has been easier than I thought it would be.   There is a sense of relief.  The relief that who I am is more than enough. 

What does God want for my life?  He wants me to be me and live my life, and not someone else's.  Every day, I have 1440 minutes to live. Do I really want to spend any of those minutes focused on what someone else has or who they are?  

There is a sense of freedom that I have found this month.  I am not comparing myself to anyone else.  It is liberating in a way.  I can just be me, and not "worry" that I am missing out on something.

Here's the thing, when I compare, I add the stress and anxiety of not having what I think I should have.  Yes, we can pray and dream, but what is the thought process behind those prayers?  Why am I praying for something that I do not have?

There is a difference.  I could covet a large house, a brand new sports car, or a million dollars. Yet, are any of those things going to make me happy, or are those things items I can't afford?  

Praying for a house of my own at a price point, or needing a car I can afford, of course.  I think that God does want us to prosper and thrive in life.  He does want us to dream and live. He gave us 1440 minutes in a day.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I have freed up a lot of minutes by not comparing. Now, I can focus on what God wants for my life.  I can focus on God and my relationship with Him. That is what He wants. He wants a relationship with each one of us.   

God expects me to be me, and although it has taken a long time, I am finally getting it. I don't need to compare myself with anyone else.  I don't have to be someone that I am not.  God's child, that is who I am.

What would happen if the actions of not comparing become a habit?  I know that I would be happier with time to do other things.  How many minutes in the day do I free up?  No, I am not going to do the math.

All I can do is pray that this month will go to the next month and so on.  One day at a time.  What does God want for my life?  I am living my life now, 1440 minutes at a time.

Dear Poppa God,

Thank you for giving us 1440 minutes in each day.  We have this day that you want us to live life.  You don't want us to spend the day comparing ourselves to others or what they have versus what we have.  Please help us to realize that You want us to live life abundantly. We are all on our journey with You, and I pray that each one of us reading this will follow Your will for our life.

In Jesus Name. Amen

Written by Laura Maxson

September Prayer Topic: We are Originals

Don’t Compare

“Each one should test their own actions.  Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” Galatians 6:4

            “Her life is perfect.  She has it all together.  Her body is perfect.  The family, the job, the house, the kids, and the dog, all are perfect. What is wrong with my family?”

“I am single living in a one-bedroom apartment.  My boring life.  Her life looks so cool. She seems to have it all put together, and lives a glamorous life.”

            “She is the same age as me and yet she has lived more of a life than me.  I have had so many struggles, and her life is an adventure.”

            “I bet I would be happier if I had…”

            Have you had similar thoughts? Do you compare your life with others?  I know I have, and a lot.  It is easy to do.

God doesn’t want us to do that though. In fact, He tells us not to compare ourselves. He has a plan for each of us.  My journey will look different than yours.  That is okay. It doesn’t make your journey better or worse than mine.  It is your journey, and it is my journey through life.

            This month we are praying that we don’t compare our lives with others.  Our lives, our journey, is unique. We are unique individuals.  Each of us has been designed by our creator uniquely and for different purposes.

            I know that it is sometimes very easy to look at someone’s life and wish that was your life.  It is easy to compare the things that we don’t have with someone who seems to have it all.  This month is not going to be easy.

            How am I going to not compare?  Every we look, we are bombarded with things that we don’t have, can’t afford, or wish we had.  This month, I am going to pray, and make the conscious effort to be content, no more than that, be at peace with what I have, and with who I am.

            God designed me, Laura, to be an original.  Maybe, I don’t look like I want, or am at the place in life I thought I would be.  You know what, that is okay.  I want to be at peace that who I am, is who I am.

            Can I continue to grow in my walk with God, absolutely.  Are there things that I can add to my life or do in my life to not make it so boring? You bet! However, I don’t have to mold myself or fit myself to fit someone that I am not.  I can’t be somebody else, and God doesn’t expect me to be. I am me.

       

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

     We are originals, limited editions, priceless works of God’s art.  The Master Creator designed you and me individually to be individuals.  We are not duplicates, or carbon copies of someone else. So why do we try?

            If we are originals why are we trying to be carbon copies of someone else?  Comparing leads to jealousy, and jealousy can breed contempt.  Life is hard, and we make it harder on ourselves sometimes.

            How can we make life a little easier?  Don’t compare. I am not saying to not strive to be a better person.  God wants us to be the manifestation of Him, and not someone else.  God designed you and me and wants us to be the best you and me that we can be.

This month I know I want to make a concerted effort to not compare my life with anyone else.  I want to thrive as me.  God wants me to thrive as me as well. Will you join me in thriving in our own journey?

Dear Poppa God

You have made each of us an original.  Yes, I know that sometimes we compare our lives with others. I thank you for being so patient, and You continue to point out to us that You have a journey through life just for each one of us.  Help us to understand that we are an original and that is a good thing.

In Jesus name, AMEN

Written by Laura Maxson