We can measure ourselves by others and the areas of strength we see in them. We can wrongly use them to make us feel less than worthy. We can create standards for ourselves that are not placed on us by God, or His word.
We can also do the same to others, or allow others to do so to us. Both of these, are difficult and oh so damaging to a right relationship with God and those He has placed in our lives.
First, when we create standards for ourselves based on either spirit-lead convictions or by other means (example of others, habits, new thinking, etc.) then place them on others ... we pridefully place ourselves in a position we do not belong.
Do you do this? Think about times when you look at others' choices they make, money they spend, the people they spend time with, the convictions they have, the behavior of their children, their marriages, their housekeeping ...do you look at them and measure them against your own successes, your own convictions, your own standards?
Are you using your own measure to judge others?
I know I find myself doing this, often without even realizing it. How unfair we can be to others, even if in our own minds.
If you have ever been on the opposite side of that, you know how damaging that can be as well. Have you ever been in the position to be the judged? Are you ever applied to the measure of someone else, and found to be wanting?
Do you have someone in your life who measures you by a standard that they have determined for themselves (whether Godly, spirit-led, or not) and makes sure you know you do not measure up?
Then, you know how difficult it can be for your spirit when that happens.
Remaining true to God's standards, and only God's standards, is only possible by constant prayer and by remaining in His Word. It must be a daily practice, so that we can remain in the Spirit which will help us see when we are creating standards for ourselves, others or are allowing others to place them on us.
Since realizing that I can confess to all of these, I have had my eyes opened to so many areas that need to return to God's guidelines and not mine or others'. I have found some freedom from standards that I did not need or deserve to be placing on myself and those around me. I have a long way to go, but I am learning :)
