One of the greatest hindrances to being an overcomer in Christ is comparison. When we look at what others have and compare, we tend to see ourselves as lacking, and lose gratitude for the good that is already ours.

Comparison, of course can creep up in areas beyond money and financial status. It extends to all of the things to which we feel we are entitled, such as success, prestige, and influence. It even affects those of us who are in full-time ministry!

Case in point: A few years ago, I started becoming preoccupied with how my ministry measured up compared to other, similar ministries. Consistently, I saw myself coming up short. Instead of focusing on the bountiful things that God had already done in and through me, when I looked at what I was holding in my hands, I deemed it meager, scant, and inadequate – compared to what others had.

And that was the problem. I had my eyes on others and what they had, rather than on God and my own situation. Comparing myself to others had caused me to fall into the trap of discontentment.

Realizations from Healing Prayer in Richmond VA

In 1 Timothy 6:6, the Apostle Paul says, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain” (NKJV).

The word “contentment” in this verse is the Greek word “autarkeia,” which means:

• A perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed
• Sufficiency of the necessities of life
• A mind contented with its lot, contentment

That same Greek word is translated as “sufficiency” in 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (KJV).

Jesus Christ paid an enormous price to give us “everything we need for a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3, emphasis mine).

I began to recognize that, when I chose to compare myself to others, I was not walking in the fullness of life that Jesus intended for me to have!

When the Holy Spirit convicted me of my ingratitude—because ingratitude is at the core of all discontent—I asked the Lord to forgive me for my envy, jealousy and anger, and for comparing myself to others instead of being content to do what He had called me to do. This also meant I needed to forgive anyone in my life who didn’t seem to value what I had to offer, or who had not responded to my invitations to get to know me better and to celebrate key life events with me.

As I repented for my attitude of discontent and jealousy and received the Lord’s forgiveness, I felt like He was washing me clean of black gunk and dirt that had stuck to me through this sin.

Then He showed me a picture of what a life without comparison could look like:

I have a bow and arrow in my hand and I am in field of competitors. I aim, and I hit the bulls-eye. I aim again, but the second time, I do not hit the bulls-eye. I look around but cannot see if the other people in the field are hitting their bulls-eyes or not. The Lord is standing behind my bulls-eye and looking at me approvingly. All of a sudden, hedges arise on either side of me. It is now impossible to see the other people who are shooting at bulls-eyes. I am in a field of my own. And I have an audience of one.

As I brought envy and self-comparison to death on the cross, I saw myself laying down a spyglass at the foot of the cross. In exchange, the Lord gave me blinders so that I could only look straight ahead.

My response was simple:
Thank you, Lord. Please help me to walk with blinders when it comes to comparisons. Help me to keep my eyes only on you and the bulls-eye.

Finding Contentment through Healing Prayer in Richmond VA

When we compare ourselves to others, we fuel envy, jealousy, and even anger in our hearts. Becoming discontented, we fail to see ourselves as God sees us. We find ourselves constantly competing with others and yet always seeming to come up wanting because we have lost sight of God, and therefore His truth about who we are.

Consider this admonishment that the Lord gave me that day:
Seek first the kingdom, for in my kingdom is joy and pleasures forever. Take your eyes off of what you don’t have and put them on what you do.

If you would like to stop comparing yourself to others, here are three simple steps to help you get started:

1. Confess and repent of the sins of jealousy, envy and discontent.
2. Forgive those in your present and in your past who caused you to feel inferior.
3. Ask God to reveal His truth to you about how He sees you and then ask Him to help you to keep that focus.

Though it’s a process, through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I believe we may learn to be truly content.

Contact FHI for Healing Prayer in Richmond VA

If you need help praying through jealousy, envy or discontent, we are here to help. You can make your prayer counseling appointment for healing prayer in Richmond VA with Finding Home Institute. Email us at info@findinghomeinstitute.org (preferred) or call (571) 393-1278. We will respond in no later than 1 business day.

All “Strategies for Freedom” Posts

To help you on your journey:
1: Letting Go
2: Giving Thanks
3: Stop Comparing