Thursday, November 14, 2013

The Internal Enemy of Women: Comparison

Most women do not struggle with looking lustfully upon men's bodies. The way the eye of women usually works has largely to do with COMPARISONS.

Comparison: 
  • to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and differences
  • to appear in a similar standing
  • to differ in quality or accomplishment as specified
  • to rival   
Comparing Each Other
Women tend to look at other women and compare themselves. They try to be attractive to men, but they sometimes measure their attractiveness by comparing themselves to the appearance of other women. Sometimes they will survey the group until their eyes land on the woman they consider most attractive, and then the comparisons begin.... (Summary text taken from A Covenant with My Eyes, pg 117)

Catering to the desire of women to recover their youthfulness, entire industries have arisen that enable women to undergo a host of medical procedures to enhance their attractiveness. Our culture doesnt give women the permission to age. Something that should be celebrated (the regal beauty of a woman's crowning years) is turned into competition to try to look seventeen again. (Summary text taken from A Covenant with My Eyes, pg 120)

As men we tend to quickly dismiss the waves of emotions that go though our wives, mothers, and sisters not understanding an enemy internally in them that is trying to dismantle their self-image, value and worth-this enemy is called Comparison. It happens to pastors wives, to stay-at-home moms, to business women, to nurses, to teachers, to care-givers all over the world. As much as women try to understand the internal pressures and struggles in sexual temptations for men, we as men, must do the same with greater compassion for the women in our lives. For our wives, our mothers, our sisters and ladies around the world who desperately need to know they are valued, protected, and honored.

 Here Are 5 Ways For Women to Combat the Battle of Comparing
Walk in Freedom!
Yourself: 


1. Receive God's Affection! You were created by God and in His image. He affirms you as a beautiful daughter of the King! Walk in majestic beauty knowing your heavenly Father absolutely loves you!

2. Forgive your Dad! The father gives the identity to the children. As much as we have fatherless sons, we have more fatherless daughters. Without affection from their Dad, without loving embraces, without words of affirmation, daughters begin to question their self-worth. Am I beautiful enough? Is something wrong with me? Am I a good daughter? Cutoff the enemy's stronghold and forgive your father for not embracing you, not affirming you, not loving you with emotion when you needed it most. Healing brings joy.

3. Confess Your Struggle! The Bible says in James 5:16, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Let your husband know your struggle. How you feel ugly, how you compared yourself to another woman, how you desired to be more attractive like "that" girl. If you are single, share with a spiritual mother and pray together. Don't live in comparisons live in freedom!

4. Spend time with godly women! The more time you spend with women who are humble, meek, modest, and Spirit-led the more you will have a desire to please the Lord instead of posting more "selfies" on social media. Proverbs 13:20, "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm."

5. Volunteer/Serve! As men tend to find themselves trapped in porn when they are alone, lonely, or in depression so women need to understand that constantly viewing pictures of other women, their families, their lifestyles, for hours a day obviously will cause comparison to arise internally. Cut-it off by doing good. Volunteer more at church, serve at local non-profits, visit elderly, create care packages for those in need. When we shift focus from me to the those in need we become blessed stewards of the time God gives us.

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