John 3.30: “He must become greater; I must become less.”
We live in a very “Me” society, where we are constantly basing our self-worth and values on our earthly desires.
When we become too self-focused, this becomes the driving power and answer to why we often compare ourselves with others. Usually, when we place such high expectations and pressure on our earthly desires, we start to become more worldly. This means that we are placing and loving anything more than God Himself. And once these priorities fail or disappoint us, we feel lost, hopeless, and directionless because we no longer know what our identity is.
When we become too self-focused, this becomes the driving power and answer to why we often compare ourselves with others. Usually, when we place such high expectations and pressure on our earthly desires, we start to become more worldly.
It is often the answer to the questions as to why we are insecure, why we keep making comparisons with others, and why we never seem to be satisfied with the present and chase after the next thing.
Being too self-focused can rob our joy and shrink our souls. Instead of chasing after things that are constantly changing and uncertain, we should focus on the one constant factor: Jesus.
When we choose the Christian life, our lives no longer revolve around ourselves but instead revolve around the Lord. Just as Pastor Brett’s sermon on “Prayer” emphasized, our relationship with God is not transactional. Our faith in the Lord should never be just an accessory that we wear on Sundays; instead, it should be a lifestyle in which we constantly seek Him each day.
… our relationship with God is not transactional. Our faith in the Lord should never be just an accessory that we wear on Sundays; instead, it should be a lifestyle in which we constantly seek Him each day.
Like building habits, this is always easier said than done. So here are some ways we can try this week to integrate more of the Gospel in our lives, to be reminded of Jesus in everyday living:
1. Worship Music
We often turn to listen to music as we are commuting to places or if we want to fill the silence. Instead of listening to some pop songs, try changing up a little to start your day by listening to worship music. You can also add some Christian songs to your playlist so you can remind yourself to worship and praise the Lord every step of your way.
2. Listen to a Christian Podcast
Sermons are not only for Sundays, whether you need some affirmation or wisdom during your day you can always head to Spotify to listen to some podcasts from other leaders. If music is not a good fit for you, sermons are also a great way to learn more about God’s word and also gain spiritual encouragement.
3. Follow Some Christian Instagram pages
According to a statistic done by Instagram, people spend more than 32 minutes a day scrolling on the app. Instagram constantly glamorizes someone else’s life, which will lead to the temptation of making comparisons and feeling insecurity as a result. So what better way than to change your mindset by following some Christian pages to counter the darkness of social media?
4. Do a Quick Devotional
We live in a convenient time where we can access our Bibles through our phones. The Bible app is a great way to join a daily devotional series to follow, and create a Bible-reading routine before bed, right after you wake up, or before a meal to read a quick 5-minute devotional to reorient focus on the Lord.
5. Praise Him with Affirmations
Besides rejoicing in our sufferings, we should also rejoice and thank God for every blessing, as every blessing comes from God. This way, we give everything we own back to Him and we can appreciate each creation He has created in this world for us to enjoy, and each experience in our lives that He has provided.
6. Pray
The biggest way to put God as our priority is through prayer. Take a minute or more out of your busy life to sit down and talk to God, which will over time instill a sense of quiet and peace. As God is the Prince of Peace, the power of prayer can calm your anxious mind as you remember that God carries your burdens and that you can cast “all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5.7).