Today’s reading is Psalm 147.
How do I measure up?
Whether you realize it or not, it’s probably something you are asking yourself subconsciously multiple times a day and even multiple times per hour and minute. From a very young age we can all probably remember getting a test back and saying to your friend, “What did you get?” I can remember in grade school not being able to sleep the night before the 1 on 1 competition at our school’s basketball camp because I wanted to prove I was the best. Now, the company I work emails production numbers every single day for each person in our organization. It’s hard to avoid scoreboard watching. I have not even yet discussed social media. There are a lot of good things from it too, but I truly believe we are having a mental health epidemic because we see everyone else’s highlight reel all the time. We don’t see the fight they had with their spouse before the smiling family picture, the financial troubles they are going through, or the struggles their child is having in school right before they posted that picture of the championship they just won. Have you ever seen a pro or college team’s “hype video” set to music before an upcoming game showing highlights of previous games? They can make a team that hasn’t won a game all year look like the best in the country. Perception is not reality, but we don’t grasp it. We think we are the only ones with problems.
As we read this on Thanksgiving, I’m extremely grateful that our Father in Heaven does not measure us by or care about our results.
Psalm 147:10-11 reads…
He delights not in the
strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a
man,
but the Lord takes pleasure in
those who fear him,
in those who hope in his
steadfast love.
I’ve written about it before, but I love the quote, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Thankfully, what God cares about is about our heart for Him.
Despite our past, we all become perfect and washed clean of our past mistakes and failures through His blood on the cross.
Psalm 147:2-3 reads..
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of
Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
I pray that we can find our self-image in how He views us because of Jesus…perfect, blameless, and holy.
I pray that today on Thanksgiving and every day we can find joy and gratitude in His love for us despite our circumstances.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone!
