You Are Unique. Stop Comparing Yourself With Others

photo- courtesy of Unsplash - photo by Greg Rakozy

Once when I was in college, I attended a student conference in North Carolina.  One day, as I was waiting for my friends, a senior adult lady I didn’t know approached me and asked how I was enjoying the conference. For some reason, I confided in her that I was disappointed because I hadn’t been selected to sing the solo for the evening worship service.

She replied, Do you know why I stopped to talk with you?”

“No,” I replied.

“I wanted to tell you that each night when the choir sings, I watch you.”

“What?” I asked. “I don’t understand.”

“The others sing,” she replied, “But you worship. I need to tell you something. You are unique and loved by God. He doesn’t want you comparing yourself to others. He wants you to rejoice in who He’s created you to be.”

I walked away encouraged.

That evening, I was surprised to see the same woman introduced as the keynote speaker.  She walked to the podium, looked out at 1500 college students and said once again, “You are unique and loved by God.”

I noticed a girl in the row in front of me wiping her eyes. She needed that message as much as I did.

We all spend so much time comparing ourselves with others that we forget that God loves us just as we are and made us that way on purpose.

So, before I go, let me remind you – You are unique and loved by God. He loves you very much. He created you on purpose. He doesn’t want you comparing yourself to others. He wants you to rejoice in who He’s created you to be.

Retreat Prayer Experience

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Recently, for a retreat, I revised an older prayer experience I used in college based on Psalm 97, Romans 12:1-2, and Philippians 4:8. The experience is designed to help you renew your mind, either at the beginning or the close of the day. I hope it ministers to you.

Simply read the scripture and follow the instructions below:

Read Psalm 97 below and take some time to meditate on the identity of the Lord.

1 The Lord is king!  Let the earth rejoice!  Let the farthest coastlands be glad. 2 Dark clouds surround him.  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire spreads ahead of him and burns up all his foes. 4 His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; every nation sees his glory. 7 Those who worship idols are disgraced—all who brag about their worthless gods—for every god must bow to him.

8 Jerusalem has heard and rejoiced, and all the towns of Judah are glad because of your justice, O Lord!

9 For you, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. 10 You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.

11 Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right. 12 May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise his holy name!

Write down five words that describe the greatness of God:

Now use those five words in a brief spoken prayer to the Lord.

Read Romans 12:1-2

12 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Living Sacrifice Prayer: Romans 12:1 tells us to offer our lives as “living sacrifices” to God as an act of worship. Where you are, kneel before God as a sign of surrender and worship. Pray and ask Him to show you how to be a living sacrifice to Him.

Things of the World Prayer: Romans 12:2 says to conform no longer to the patterns of the world. Make a list of ways you struggle with conforming to the world, then pray a prayer, asking God to help you no longer conform to each of the items you’ve listed. 

Read Philippians 4:8.  

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Pray and ask God to help you fix your thoughts on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable throughout this staff retreat. Ask Him to help you speak what is excellent and praiseworthy…

Finally, craft a note of thanks to the Lord for helping renew your mind. 

photo- courtesy of Unsplash - photo by Greg Rakozy

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Psalm 103 Night of Worship Outline

Opening Worship Set

Welcome

Explanation of Service and Prayer

Song – 10,000 Reasons – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM

Scripture – Psalm 103:1-5a

Let all that I am praise the Lord! With my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.

Let all that I am praise the Lord; May I never forget the good things He does for me.

He forgives all my sins and heals my diseases. He redeems me from death

And crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things.

Expounding on the Goodness of the Lord – Campus Pastor or Representative

People Sharing In Small Groups about God’s Goodness

Pastor Led Prayer –

Song – This I Believe – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-m9sRRN9MA

Scripture – Psalm 103:6, 8-12

The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.

He does not punish us for all our sins; He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve,

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height

of the heavens above the earth.

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

Expounding on the Forgiveness of the Lord

Live Campus Specific Salvation Testimony –

Intercessory Prayer at Front –

Suggested Song – How Can It Be? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UXn_OuJkvE

Or

O Come To the Altar – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYQ5yXCc_CA  

Scripture – Psalm 103:13-17a

The Lord is like a Father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. For He knows how weak we are; He remembers we are only dust.

Our days on earth are like grass; Like wildflowers, we bloom and die

The wind blows, and we are gone – As though we had never been here.

But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him.

Expounding on the Love of the Lord

Pastor Led Prayer

Suggested Song – To My Knees – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZs26lTjAuM

Praising the Lord Section –

Scripture – Psalm 103:19-22

The Lord has made the heavens His throne; from there He rules over everything.

Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out His plans, listening for each of His commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve Him and do His will! Praise the Lord, everything He has created, everything in all His kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Suggested Song –

The Lion and The Lamb – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9ujBoud26k

Optional Continued Worship Set

(Campus Specific Selections)

Offering/Closing Prayer