comparison-the thief of all joy

"Comparison-the thief of all joy"

Tonight, my pastor made this quote in service, 

and it really had me thinking about how much those 6 simple words impacted us everyday. 

In day to day life I compare...

I compare myself to the girl next to me at the gym, 

I compare my clothes to people at work,

 I compare my car to the person driving beside me, 

I compare my hairstyle to the girl setting in front of me at the movies

....as humans in the raw....we compare. 

But, whenever we are always looking to the person beside us and not what God is calling us to be....thats when we loose Joy. To be happy in the state we in and not to strive for the things that we don't obtain. 

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 joy |joi|

noun

a feeling of great pleasure and happiness : tears of joy | the joy of being alive.

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In the bible(niv) the word "Joy" is used 244 times....Gods desire for us is to be JOYFUL and glad. But, pure Joy cannot be obtained on our own, no matter how much we strive for it, Joy is the fruit of a right relation with God. I hope that my life exudes Joy to where people can see that there is something different in me. I am always going to be human and full of sin, but by the grace of God I hope that I can keep my mind set on the things of him, and not in constant comparison.

psalm 97:11-12

Light shines on the righteous and JOY on the upright in heart. 

rejoice in the Lord,

you who are righteous and praise his holy name.

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#12-the sound of windshield wipers 

#13-panara-soup and baguette 

#14-notes of a sheet of music