My entire life, I’ve always seen through a specific type of lens. I think many of us end up looking through whatever lens our particular season hands us. If you’re like me you, then you have the tendency to shift lenses. But seeing everything through the same narrow lens day in and day out is what can keep us fixed in the same spot for far too long! In order to grow and change we need to make adjustments to lens we’re looking through 👓! However, there is one lens we cannot ever compromise—it’s the Jesus Lens. The Jesus Lens is how The Father views us and it’s how we were created—in His likeness and image. Let me explain.

I wanna get real with you about the lens that I’ve been looking through lately. Actually, I hear so many people have the tendency to use the same one and it’s called “comparison.” A song I’ve been mediating on recently is called “Comparison Kills” and it has really been speaking to me! To be honest, I’ve been using the lens of comparison more often than I ever realized. Here’s some of the backstory on when I first realized it:

In December of last year, so many people would ask me “hey do you wanna workout.” I would quickly reply, “ahhhh nooooo that’s gonna be a hard pass!” One of my friends actually asked me why I didn’t want to work out and I got so upset! Without me even knowing it, my friend hit a soft spot simply by asking me that little three letter word that I never wanted to answer—“WHY?”

It all comes down to being stretched and feeling those growing pains. I didn’t want to reveal the true reason—that I was scared and that it was too embarrassing for me to run the risk of looking stupid in the gym because it’s unfamiliar territory for me. But this year? I knew it was something that my body needed so I started to go to the gym with my friend Jess. When we went together, I felt comfortable with her. But how many of us know that God doesn’t do “comfortable”? He wants us to grow and in order to grow, we need to step out of our comfort zone! When I made the decision to take on step, I gave the Holy Spirit permission to have His way and continue stretching me. How did He do that? By leading my boyfriend to ask me to workout with him. Oh-em-gee! Ladies, I don’t know about you, but for me—working out in front of my man is a challenge and a half! Naturally, I was like thinking “I’ll tell him yes but we really won’t be able to do it because our schedules won’t work” HAHA! Well guess what? God had something else in mind.

Something I really wanted was for my boyfriend to come with me on a trip to Bogotá, Colombia 🇨🇴 with people from our church and my family. I knew it was going to be such an incredible time for both of us spiritually and I believed it would help us to grow together. The whole time I was thinking of other areas God would allow me to grow in—not the one I’d been avoiding. 😏 Oh, man! I was just thinking like a normal girl “the boy I like is coming on this trip with me and the stretching won’t be painful we’re gonna worship Jesus and be in that place” Well, guess what one of the first things my boyfriend says to me; “Let’s workout together” 😳 Immediately I started sweating. My forehead was sweating and I was even getting that upper lip sweat—you know the kind! I was thinking “ughhhhh whyyyy!!” It’s not like there was a way to escape. I mean we wouldn’t have conflicting schedules because we were together all the time. I couldn’t be like “ummm my schedule is too packed—sorry!” Haha NOPE! Let’s just say that the lens of compassion was zoomed ALL THE WAY IN. Now my boyfriend knows his way around the gym. It’s part of his everyday routine because he’s been an athlete pretty much all his life. 😒 uhhh yeah So I was like—“this is embarrassing..”

I’m telling you this story because I thought I was so free in this area. Really, I did! I didn’t think I was comparing myself with anyone before. Needless to say, my INSECURITIES GOT MAGNIFIED in that lens! It was zoomed in x1000! But you know what? I truly believe with my whole heart ❤️ God will do that. I know for myself, it happens almost every single time! Here is something I learned—when God begins to raise the bar in your life you need to climb higher and you need to flex more muscle in order to get to where He needs you to be! If you don’t have the muscle for it then you need to build that muscle or you won’t be able to reach the bar!

Let’s take a look at what the Word says:
“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.”
Galatians‬ ‭5:25-26‬ ‭MSG

There it is! We have chosen to live this life as disciples of Jesus. He instructs us to work out every single detail of our lives, not just some. We need to take a hard look at all areas of our lives so that we can continue to walk in this life that He has called us to! SIDENOTE: Can we take a moment to appreciate that the Bible says “work out” and “compare” in the same verse? He knew about my struggle with exercise before I even did! 😅

In order to grow we need to see where we’ve been lacking. I stopped being goal oriented person somewhere along the way. I only came to this realization when I began to look through the right lens. Now I didn’t understand this out of hurt or embarrassment. I understood because God placed some one who truly cares about me in my life to tell me the TRUTH even tho I wanted to cover my ears the whole time!

I’ve realized that I’m who needs to work a little bit harder on committing to goals. I used to be really great at achieving goals in the past, but I had gotten completely comfortable with my limits. I just decided to live in that comfort and only focus on the things I knew I was good at.

Honestly I could still do that today but this blog post is about seeing through Gods lens. Allowing Him to expose my weaknesses and knowing that’s the only way He can fill our cup! We need to continue growing and we should all want to know He’s calling us: Spirit, Soul, & Body.

The funniest thing about all of this exactly a year ago I wrote about this same thing, but was still not being a good watchman over all areas of my life. I can’t compare myself to my boyfriend, my sisters, my friends or even my past self! I mean…I have one friend who can do amazing flips 🤸🏻‍♀️ and I’m definitely not gonna compare in that area—I will stay in my lane. 😂

I truly believe God brought the right people in my life to keep me accountable and to be good watchmen with me. We aren’t called to do anything alone. In order to move forward in life we cannot ever focus on things through the lens of comparison. Instead, we need to constantly see ourselves through God’s Lens!