Is this really mine?

For who do you know that really knows you, knows your heart? And even if they did, is there anything they would discover in you that you could take credit for? Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need. You already have more access to God than you can handle. (I Corinthians 4:7-8 MSG)

I have various levels of relationships, each saying they 'know' me, but do they really 'know' me fully? As close as some friendships may be, even the relationship I have with my own children, is it possible for us to really know our hearts fully? God knows our heart better than any human ever will - all we ever will need comes from God because he knows us better than anyone else! The heart is a hard thing to really get to know, isn't it? It is influenced by every emotion known to mankind and can change at the drop of the hat. No wonder our human relationships have a hard time 'figuring us out'! Yet God knows our heart COMPLETELY. There is no change we go through based on emotions, events, or others that catches God unaware. In truth, he has already prepared all we will need to navigate those things - we just need to tap into his provision!

We have ALL we need to live according to his will. That may come as a surprise to some because the 'will' to make right decisions seems so foreign to us. We think we don't have what it takes to make right choices, so we excuse our wrong ones. That may seem a little over-simplified for some, but the truth of the matter is that we DO have all we need to resist temptation, to overcome struggles, and to grow in Christ. We lack nothing, yet we live like we are at 'poverty level' spiritually. We compare and compete like it makes a difference to struggle to 'measure up' to others. We forget that the only standard we need to 'measure up to' is Jesus - period. Everything we have and everything we will ever become is because of Christ's presence in our lives. We are to be growing in Christ - incorporating all he has given us into our daily lives. We are given the privilege of prayer, that we may communicate with the one who loves us without measure. We are given the tutelage of his Holy Spirit, that we may learn from his Word and know his ways. 

We are given the Word of God, that we may have a reference to constantly refer to when we need direction, encouragement, or wisdom. We are given freedom from past sins, that we may be renewed daily without needing to rehash the old ways of living. We are given grace, that we may stand forgiven even when we least deserve it. We are given access into the very presence of a holy God, that we may enjoy the comfort and love he shares as we do. So much has been provided, yet we live far below that potential whenever we spend time competing or comparing ourselves one to another. Stop focusing on others so much and start focusing on Jesus. You might just be surprised what you discover is already totally and freely yours already! Just sayin!