Oh my goodness, I am the very worst at this… comparing myself to other women.  And it’s funny how I always end up with the short end of the stick.  Their hair is Always better, their nails, their clothes, “Ooooo, I want to dress like that!”  And especially their shoes.  I’m, all about the shoes.  Are you with me ladies?

Or maybe you’re more mature than me and are looking at the way they carry themselves, or the actual words they speak, or it’s not what she said but how she is able to use her words; so elegant and classy.  Personally, I had a mentor, an older woman who was a pastor’s wife… actually she still is.  She was one of those women; her words were classy and the way she reacted and carried herself was truly to be copied.

I do have to say, this has been a great way for me to get some fashion tips without actually buying all of those crazy magazines that sell our minds lies and deception.  And you can definitely learn something from the way another woman speaks, or carries herself.  But I’m here to tell you, “Baby, You were BORN to stand out!” And not in the way you are thinking right now.

God says this about His children, “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” 1 Peter 2:9-10. (The Message)

And let’s look at it in another translation just in case you aren’t getting the nitty-gritty from this one.  (Do read this one, too!)  “⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰ for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (NASB) 

So why, do we as women spend so much time and effort comparing ourselves?  Why is it that we have this deep-seeded longing to just fit in?  Listen, Girls, we are not going to fit in everywhere.  There is always going to be a tension between the God that lives and dwells in us and the ones who are living for the world.  And remember, everyone is not a child of God.  The Bible says in John 1:12 that IF we receive Him we are given the right to become His children.  So why in the world do we try and act as if we aren’t royalty, as if we aren’t God’s own possession, as if we aren’t called out of this darkness we are trying so hard to be like.

It’s time we stopped spending so much time trying to make ourselves perfect.  We are already perfect in God’s sight.  Instead, why don’t we spend more time focusing on doing the work of our Father.  It’s time we stood up and were the salt and light the Bible tells us we are.  That and our love will draw people to Jesus. And it’s not through not our words.

In 1 Peter 3, the Bible tells us that standing out does not merely mean fashion or accessories.  In verse three it says: “Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;”  and then it goes on to say that our gentle and quiet spirit ( which is precious and valuable in God’s sight) will be what draws people to Him.  It’s not our word, but our actions and demeanor.  Our unsaved husbands as it says in verse one, and it’s our testimony to the world especially when things are turbulent like now.  Have you seen the state of our world lately?

In Revelation it says that our testimony is important, that others are saved by the blood of the Lamb and the word of OUR testimony… sometimes that testimony is just being different enough for others to ask about.  Why?  Because of our behavior in times of turmoil and upheaval.  And there’s certainly been a ton of that lately.  Why here in California there were devastating fires and then came the flooding… such such utter devastation.

Then I saw this article about  an Alabama player’s conduct when he was taken out of the game for another player.  It was in the NY Post, of all places!  His behavior was exactly what we have been talking about here, gentle and quiet and rooting for the other guy.  Why do I bring this up?  Because his gentle and quiet spirit was so different it earned him public recognition and others were able to see it in a huge way.  You can read about it HERE.  And in today’s cray culture that is so upside down and backwards, it truly stands out in the right way.

So why else is this important?  Because of 1 Peter 2.  In verses 11-12 it says that others will see us good deeds, our behavior, etc.  And then when Jesus comes back they will give God glory for the things they have seen.  And in verse 13, we are told this is “for the Lord’s sake”.  Naturally we want to give Him all the glory and we definitely want to do it for His sake.  And lastly because in verse 15 it tells us that it is Gods’s will, and it gives us the why.  Why?  So “it will silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

So I challenge you today, Girls, let’s shine just the way God made us.  Let’s point ALL the glory back to our God!